Verification at login adds another important level of protection

At Schwab, your trust is essential to our business. To earn that trust, we make your security our priority. This authentication feature provides you with an extra layer of security when you work with Schwab online, helping to protect your account information even if your login ID and password have been compromised.

We provide an additional verification layer at login to confirm it's really you. Once we know it's you and you tell us to trust the device, we'll associate your particular device to your account for future use.

That way, when you log in on that device, we know that you're using a device we recognize – and trust.

We'll ask you to verify each device you use. This should only happen once for each device. You may be asked to re-verify if you've deleted cookies from your browser, use a new browser, or make other changes to your device.

If you use a new or different device, or a public one (which we really don't recommend for security reasons), then you'll be asked to provide verification with a security code or equivalent verification step. 

If you do use a public device, make sure not to trust it.

If you don't choose to have us remember and trust your device, then we'll ask you to confirm your identity each time you use your device.

Log in to your Schwab account with your login ID and password. A notice will appear on-screen, asking you to verify that it's you. This one-time verification is unique, and we send it only to you.

You'll choose how you want us to verify it's you – we'll show you options. Once you confirm your identity with us, you can choose to continue by telling us to trust this device. You and your device will be recognized with Schwab.

For example, you are logging into Schwab from your laptop, and you receive a security code on your mobile phone via text message. You then enter the security code on the webpage. After we verify that it's you (with your unique code), we associate that particular laptop with your account. 

Once you select your verification method, you have 30 minutes to complete it. It shouldn't take more than a minute or so to complete.

If the verification request expires, or you need to request again, simply request a new verification attempt. And if you have any other issues, call us. We're here to help.

After that, you're good to login every time with that laptop – we know it's a laptop you want us to trust.