Axis Bank has launched a new security feature, called the Safety Centre, on its mobile banking app ‘open’, aiming to give customers greater control over protecting their accounts amid a surge in digital frauds.
The Safety Centre acts as a centralised security hub, allowing users to activate or restrict key banking services in real time, without the need to contact customer care or visit a branch. The move reflects a growing trend among banks to shift fraud prevention from reactive support to customer-led controls.
At the heart of the new offering is SMS Shield, which Axis Bank says is an industry-first feature. It verifies the authenticity of bank-related text messages by checking the sender ID against the bank’s official communication channels, helping customers distinguish genuine alerts from fraudulent ones.
Beyond message verification, the Safety Centre offers a range of granular security controls. Customers can completely turn off internet banking if it is not required, instantly stop all fund transfers across mobile and internet banking, or restrict UPI payments made through the Axis mobile app. The feature also allows users to block online shopping transactions conducted via net banking on third-party platforms such as e-commerce websites.
Other controls include the ability to prevent the addition of new payees, ensuring funds are transferred only to existing beneficiaries, and to set transaction-level limits for fund transfers and UPI payments. Any transaction above the defined threshold requires additional authentication, adding another layer of protection.
According to the bank, all security settings take effect immediately, enabling customers to respond quickly to suspected fraud or suspicious activity. By reducing dependence on branches and call centres, Axis Bank says the Safety Centre also improves operational efficiency and delivers a smoother digital banking experience.
Commenting on the launch, Sameer Shetty, Group Executive – Digital Business, Transformation & Strategic Programs at Axis Bank, said customer safety remained central to the bank’s digital strategy. He said the Safety Centre was designed to address evolving fraud risks by combining layered security with ease of use, supported by features such as in-app mobile OTPs that reduce reliance on external networks.
The launch builds on Axis Bank’s broader Safe Banking initiative, which includes features like ‘Lock FD’, preventing premature closure of fixed deposits through digital channels.
As digital transactions continue to grow, Axis Bank says it is focusing on future-ready, customer-controlled solutions to make digital banking more secure and resilient.
