What iFAST Global Bank's Real-Time Alerts Actually Do for You

Most people check their bank account after something has already happened. A payment has gone through, a salary has landed, an unfamiliar transaction has appeared. By the time you notice, the moment to act has often passed. 

Real-time alerts change that. Rather than reviewing your finances in arrears, you are informed at the exact moment something occurs — giving you the opportunity to respond, question, or simply stay aware without needing to log in and check manually. 

Here is what each alert type in the iFAST Global Bank app does for you in practice. 

Instant spending alerts 

Every time your iFAST Global Bank debit card (available to UK residents only) is used — in-store, online, or abroad — you receive an immediate notification showing the amount, merchant, and currency. There is no lag, no end-of-day summary, no waiting for a statement. You know what has been spent the moment it leaves your account. 

For anyone managing a monthly budget, this is one of the most practical tools available. Rather than reconciling spending at the end of the month and discovering you have overspent in a particular category, instant alerts give you a running picture of your balance in real time. Small transactions that might otherwise go unnoticed — a subscription renewal, a recurring charge, a contactless payment — are noticed immediately. 

Live FX transaction tracking 

For customers holding multiple currencies or sending money internationally, FX transactions carry an additional layer of complexity: you want to know not just that a transfer has been sent, but at what rate, in what amount, and when it has been received on the other side. 

iFAST Global Bank's real-time FX alerts notify you the moment a currency conversion or international transfer is initiated and processed — including the rate applied and the amount sent. For customers monitoring GBP/SGD or GBP/USD exchange rates and timing transfers accordingly, knowing the exact moment a transaction executes at a specific rate is meaningful information, not just a confirmation. 

Salary credit notifications 

Knowing the moment your salary arrives is more useful than it sounds. With Bacs direct credit, iFAST Global Bank customers can receive salary payments directly into their Multi-Currency Current Account a business day earlier than the usual Bacs payday when enrolled. A real-time salary credit alert confirms the exact amount received and the timestamp, removing any uncertainty about when funds are available and allowing you to plan transfers, investments, or bill payments immediately rather than waiting to check. 

Staying informed while travelling 

When you are abroad, the stakes on both spending visibility and security are higher. Currency conversions happen automatically at the point of sale, ATM withdrawals carry their own dynamics, and the volume of small transactions can obscure unusual activity until you are back home and reviewing a statement. 

Real-time alerts while travelling give you live visibility of every transaction as it occurs, in whatever currency it is processed in. Paired with iFAST Global Bank's fee-free ATM* usage and multi-currency debit card, you have a complete picture of your finances regardless of which country you are in or which currency you are spending. 

*Third-party ATM operators may apply their own charges. 

How to turn on your alerts 

Real-time notifications can be customised directly within the iFAST Global Bank app. You choose which alert types to activate, how you receive them, and at what thresholds — giving you the level of visibility that suits your financial habits without unnecessary noise. 

If you have not yet turned on real-time alerts, it takes less than a minute in the app and there is no charge for enabling these alerts. The information it gives you in return is worth considerably more. 

Please refer to our website for full terms and conditions. iFAST Global Bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.