Bank Mode is a feature in Avast Secure Browser and Avast Antivirus that provides a virtual desktop, which acts as a clean, safe PC within your real PC. The Bank Mode virtual desktop protects you against the injection of malicious scripts, keystroke logging, and screenshot attempts by third-party apps. We recommend using Bank Mode each time you want to access a banking website or pay online.

Install Avast Products

To use Bank Mode, you need both Avast Secure Browser and Avast Antivirus or Avast One installed on your PC.

For detailed instructions to install your preferred Avast antivirus product, refer to the relevant articles below:

• Avast Premium Security | Avast Free Antivirus | Avast One

For detailed instructions to install Avast Secure Browser, refer to the following article:

• Installing Avast Secure Browser

Open Bank Mode

You can open Bank Mode using option A, B, or C below:

• Option A: Open Avast Secure Browser and go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ New Bank Mode Window.
• Option B: Right-click the Avast Antivirus icon in the notification area of your Windows taskbar and select Run Bank Mode.
• Option C: Open Avast Secure Browser, then click the blue Security & Privacy Center icon to the right of the address bar, and click Open on the Bank Mode tile.

Manage Bank Mode

Once Bank Mode is open, you can easily switch back to Avast Secure Browser, add applications to the taskbar, or turn off Bank Mode completely.

 

Switch between Bank Mode and Avast Secure Browser

1. To return to Avast Secure Browser, click Standard Desktop in the taskbar of the Bank Mode virtual desktop.
2. To return to the Bank Mode virtual desktop, click the Bank Mode button in the bottom right of your standard desktop.

 

Pin an application to the Bank Mode taskbar

1. Click the + plus icon in the taskbar of the Bank Mode virtual desktop.
2. Select the application you want to add to the Bank Mode taskbar, then click Open.
3. Click OK in the confirmation dialog that appears.
   To remove an application from the Bank Mode taskbar, right-click the application icon on the taskbar, then click Unpin this program from the taskbar.

 

Turn off Bank Mode

1. Click Close in the taskbar of the Bank Mode virtual desktop.
2. Click Close in the confirmation dialog that appears.

Settings

Although we recommend using Bank Mode for all online payments and banking websites, you can configure some settings within Bank Mode. To access Bank Mode settings:

1. Open Avast Secure Browser and click the blue Security & Privacy Center icon to the right of the address bar.
2. Click the Bank Mode tile.
3. Click Advanced Settings on the screen that appears.
4. On the Bank Mode settings screen, you can configure the following settings:
   1. When browsing in Bank Mode, always: Select your preferred action from the options.
   2. Show Bank Mode notification prompt on banking websites (enabled by default): Enables Bank Mode to show you a notification banner at the top of your screen when you visit a banking website. Click Open in Bank Mode on the notification banner to open the website with the Bank Mode virtual desktop.
   3. Automatically open Bank Mode on the following websites: Enables Bank Mode to open automatically when you visit specific websites. Click Add, type the URL for the website, and click Add again to confirm.
   4. Don't show Bank Mode notification prompt on the following websites: Prevents Bank Mode from showing a notification banner when you visit specific websites. Click Add, type the URL for the website, and click Add again to confirm.

Troubleshooting

If you have trouble opening Bank Mode, try closing and then re-opening the browser. If the issue persists, we recommend the following:

1. Open Avast Secure Browser, then type secure://extensions in the address bar, and press the Enter key on your keyboard.
2. Click the gray (OFF) slider next to Developer mode so that it changes to blue (ON).
3. Click Update.
4. After you see the Extensions updated message at the bottom of the screen, try to re-open Bank Mode.

Bank Mode should open normally now. If the issue persists, try one of the possible solutions below:

• Open Bank Mode using a different method.
• Ensure the latest version of your Avast Antivirus application is installed on your PC. For instructions, refer to the following article:
  • Updating Avast Antivirus and Avast One
• Repair your Avast Antivirus application. For instructions, refer to the following article:
  • Repairing Avast Antivirus or Avast One
• Uninstall and reinstall Avast Secure Browser.

Updated on: 6/2/22