How to Pay Utility Bills in Your Banking App

How to pay your utility bills through the banking app

Standing in a queue at the post office or the bank to pay for electricity or water is tiring, especially in winter or bad weather. In fact, that same payment can be made from home, sitting in your favourite chair, in just a few minutes. This guide will show you, step by step, how to pay a utility bill in your bank's app. Don't worry: nothing you do here is irreversible. Before any money moves, the app always shows you all the details to check, and you are the one who taps "Pay". If a screen looks different from what is described here, don't worry — go slowly and look for similar words.

A few simple words you will need

A payee is whoever the money goes to. In our case, that's the company that supplies your electricity, water, or gas, or that collects your rubbish — for example, your regional power company or water utility.

A personal account number is not a bank account. It is a special number that the utility company has assigned to your flat or house. This number is printed on the paper bill that is delivered or sent to you every month. Without this number, the company won't know whose home you are paying for.

A bill (sometimes called an invoice or receipt) is that same paper — or electronic — document showing how much you owe and for what.

What to prepare beforehand

Before you start, put your most recent utility bill next to you. It has two numbers you will need: your personal account number and the amount due. That way, you won't have to search for them halfway through the payment.

Step by step — how to find the payments section

1. Unlock your phone the way you usually do.
2. Find your bank's icon on the screen — a small colourful square with the logo.
3. Touch that icon once with your finger to open the app.
4. Log in to the app the way you normally do.
5. On the main screen, look for the word "Payments" — often next to a small coin or receipt icon.
6. Touch the word "Payments" once with your finger.

Step by step — how to find your utility payee

1. In the "Payments" section, find the category "Utilities" (sometimes called "Housing and Utilities" or "Bills").
2. Touch that category once with your finger.
3. Wait for the list of companies to appear: electricity, water, gas, heating, rubbish collection.
4. Find your company's name in the list — it is printed on your bill.
5. Touch the name of that company.

If you have paid this bill in the app before, the company may already appear at the very top of the "Payments" section, under "Recent payments" — that will save you time.

If your company is not on the list

Sometimes your provider does not appear right away. Here is how to search for it.

1. Find the search bar — usually a strip with a magnifying-glass picture (a small circle with a handle) near the top of the screen.
2. Touch that bar with your finger.
3. Type your company's name exactly as it is written on your bill.
4. Touch the company's name once it appears in the list below.

If you still can't find the company, call your bank's helpline — the number is printed on the back of your payment card. They will tell you how to pay that particular provider.

Step by step — how to enter the details and confirm payment

1. Find the field called "Personal account number" on the screen.
2. Touch that field with your finger so the keyboard appears.
3. Type your personal account number exactly as written on your bill, digit by digit.
4. Check that the number was entered correctly — read it back from the screen.
5. Touch the field called "Amount".
6. Type the amount due, exactly as shown on your bill.
7. Touch the button "Next" or "Continue".
8. Carefully read all the details on the confirmation screen: the company's name, the personal account number, and the amount.
9. If everything is correct, touch the button "Pay".
10. Confirm the payment the way you always do — with your password, your fingerprint, or the app's code.
11. Wait a few seconds for a green checkmark or the word "Success" to appear on the screen.

That's it. The money has gone to the payee. The app keeps an electronic receipt of this payment — you can look at it later, in the "History" section.

A tip for next time

After your first successful payment, the app often offers to "Save this payee" or "Save as a template". Touch that option if it appears. Next month, you won't need to type the personal account number again — you'll only need to enter the new amount.

What to do if something goes wrong

Don't worry — mistakes can almost always be fixed. Here are the most common situations.

• You typed the wrong personal account number and already confirmed the payment. Don't panic, but don't wait either. Call your bank straight away, on the number on the back of your card, and explain what happened — a member of staff will tell you what to do next.
• The payee company can't be found in the search. Check that you typed the name correctly — try a shorter version, for example just the town's name without the full company title. If that doesn't help, call your bank.
• The payment seems stuck and nothing happens. Don't tap the "Pay" button several times in a row — that could create a duplicate payment. Wait a minute, then check the "History" section to see whether the payment already went through.
• The money left your account, but the bill still shows a debt. Utility providers sometimes take a day or two to register a payment. This is normal — wait a few days before you start worrying.

In any confusing situation, call your bank on the number printed on the back of your payment card. It's free. Never call a number from a text message or an email, even if it claims to be "customer support". And remember: a real bank employee will never ask you to read out your password or an SMS code over the phone.

Summary — the key points

If you're still deciding which account to use for your monthly payments, you can calmly compare current account offers at BankSorter.com.