Banking app notification issue on iPhone, iCloud suspected

plaxnation wrote:

1. I have one specific banking app that cannot register for notifications any longer. This happened after I was trying to troubleshoot the app by installing and uninstalling the app multiple times, however, even before this, despite the app registering for push notifications I was never receiving the notifications...which is why I tried to install and uninstall.

This situation is unique in that,

Notifications work for all apps, except this one as far as I know on my regular phone (iPhone 17 on iOS 26 with all updates applied). However, some notifications seem to come in silent at times where I see the notification on the device but i never hear the notification sound. This latter issue may be related or sepatate issue...please read on.

2. Notification for this app does not work on a secondary device. This is an older iPhone 11 phone on iOS 18.6.2. This was setup as a new phone and the only app I installed on it is this banking app. I did not restore. And when I say notification does not work, I mean the application does not register for notifications at all despite asking me in the app. I do not see the iOS prompt to allow notifications for this app, nor do I see it listed under notifications in settings.

3. Notifications DO WORK on someone else's phone. I can sign in to the same banking app on my wife's phone and the app registers for notifications and receives them.

Given the 3 items above, I have to think there is an issue with my iCloud account. Could this be? The only difference between 1,2 and 3 is that for #3 I am not signed into my iCloud account.

Any advice from the experts out there?

If you receive notifications from other apps and this one banking app isn't working, your assertion it's an iCloud issue is wrong. It would be an issue with the banking app itself. And for that you need to contact the app developer of the app as Apple doesn't own the app and has no control over whether their notifications arrive or not. The notifications, by the way would not be iMessage or iCloud related.

If there are any add-on VPN apps or any add-on security apps, remove all, restart, and try again.

Try updating to iOS 26.2, as well.

I am assuming the banking app is only installed on the iPhone 11.

I am assuming no sharing of Apple Accounts here.

Most banking apps keep track of the device they’re installed on. When you try to sign in from a new device, the app—or the bank—may initially block access, assuming it could be fraud. You’ll usually see a prompt asking you to verify the attempt or de-link the old device; until you approve it, you won’t be able to use the app on the new phone.

If you’re using dual SIM with an eSIM, make sure the number registered with your bank is set as the primary SIM on the new device. Also confirm that you have an active SMS plan, since banks rely on SMS verification. In India, when you transfer an eSIM to a new device, SMS services are often locked for 24 hours, so you may need to wait before trying again.

Lobsterghost1 is correct, banks may use either or both methods to communicate with account owners. But if they are notifications, your bank needs to reset the token. The service is anonymous to Apple, so it’s not possible for them to reset the token.

Are the notifications sent SMS or push? If push, it’s sent via Apples notification service. A common issue, if sent via SMS, is the bank has the wrong phone number marked as your primary. Banks unfortunately are hesitant to update primary numbers unless specifically instructed by the account owner. Once changed the bank should be able to send a test message.

Apple notification service, is a little different and requires the use of tokens. Apple’s push notification system (APNs) routes messages using an anonymous device token that represents a specific app on a specific device, not your phone number, and not directly your Apple Account (Apple ID) email/username. Apple can associate that token with the Apple Account behind the device on its back end, but apps and banks only see and use the device token as an address. The bank would have reset the token when the app was deleted and reinstalled.

Some banks do use SMS to send notifications. You need to contact your bank and ask how they send notifications. Admitting you don't have SMS overseas due to the cost, is likely the primary issue for you. Perhaps what you need is to change your notifications from you bank to be email based?

Looking at 3, does that bank have your wife's number for your account? That would cause 1 and 2.