Each of these can and should be addressed, TMG explained. First, card holders opt in text fraud alerts so it is highly unlikely they will see them as spam. Second, the merchant names in text messages are the same as those used in fraud alerts sent by other means, such as over the phone or in an email. Third, customers understand and treat fraud alerts differently from marketing messages and, fourth, the use of fraud text alerts can be a good first step toward starting a mobile banking program.

“Credit unions and banks understand they must begin to make more services available via digital, mobile tools, as they are becoming attractive to a great number of target consumers, including the under served,”TMG wrote. “Yet they also understand some customers may need to be eased into this new way of managing their finances. Starting a fraud text alert program is a simple way to condition customers to begin their banking via mobile phone.”