Online banking: what is the TAN generator?

Online banking is not only convenient, but also increasingly the standard for transferring money securely. What makes online banking so secure happens just before the transfer. Through a TAN generator, you use your bank card to generate a code that must be entered to confirm a transfer and is known only to you.

How the TAN generator works

In practice, there are a few different TAN generators or TAN procedures. All of them are used to generate a TAN that is used for confirmation in online banking.

1. The simplest and safest way to generate a TAN is via a chipTAN generator. The device has a display and a slot for your bank card. Through a sensor on the back that can scan a flicker code, in combination with your bank card, a unique and for the transaction special TAN is generated, with which you can confirm the transfer.
2. A eTAN generator has only input keys and is also connected to the bank card. However, these generators are limited to the particular bank. In addition, the TAN is generated in a different way.
3. A sm@rt TAN generator has only one button, which can be used to confirm the inserted card. Thereupon, the transaction is processed. The TAN is not made visible to the user in this procedure.
4. The smartphone can also be used to generate a TAN or verification for a transaction. Through an app of the appropriate bank in combination with a previously run security query, you can now even conveniently pay by fingerprint.