1. How do I apply for Internet/Mobile Banking?

You can apply for the service at any of the Sohar Islamic branches by filling in the Internet/Mobile Banking Registration form. The application form duly signed by the customer can be submitted in the branch.

You can collect your Login-id and passwords (login and transaction password) from the branch after 4 working days of our receipt of the request.

2. What services can I get on Internet/Mobile Banking?
  • Account Balance Enquiry and Statement
    • Check out your last 10 transactions in your operative account with real time account balance and information about operative, deposit and loan account.
  • Transaction History:
    • Check out past transactions and download periodic statement.
  • Transfer funds:
    • Transfer Funds to your own linked Bank Accounts
    • Transfer funds instantaneously to any Sohar Islamic Account
    • Supports multicurrency fund transfer
  • Service Requests:
    • Stop Payment of Cheque
    • Order a Demand Draft/Pay order: Order a Demand Draft/Pay Order to be issued from your Sohar Islamic Account.
    • Order for cheque book
    • Renewal / Premature Closure of Fixed Deposit: Renew your existing Fixed Term Deposit Account or request for closure of your existing Fixed Term Deposit Account.
  • Mails:
    • Read, Write and interact with Account Manager to resolve any queries regarding your Bank relationships.
  • Activity:
    • Track the financial and non-financial activities done through Net & Mobile Banking.
  • Change Profile:
    • Change Password: Change your login and transaction passwords. You can also change your SMS PIN through Internet & Mobile Banking.
    • Date Format: Change date format to your preferred format.
3. What rules do I need keep in mind when changing my Login-ID and password?

Login-Id:

Your Login-ID would be randomly generated by the system and given to you when you register for the service. You would be mandated to change the login-id when you login for the first time. The login id should be at least six characters, which can be alphabets or numerals, or a combination of both. Ideally, you should select a Login ID that is easy to remember, but which is not common, to prevent anyone else from guessing your ID. You will have to create a unique id which is not already in use by someone else.

Password:

Your login and transaction Password would be randomly generated by the system and given to you when you register for the service. You would be mandated to change the login as well as transaction password when you login for the first time. The password length should be between 8 to 16 characters and should be combination of alphabets, numerals and special characters (like &, #, $,%, etc.). Your password cannot consist of all characters as are in the user id.

4. Are there any additional documents I need to submit to avail the Internet/Mobile Banking Facility?

No, there is no additional document required for availing the Internet/Mobile Banking facility except that you will have to submit a copy of the ID card /Passport while registering for the service. You should have an account (operative, finance or fixed account), with the Sohar Islamic to avail the facility.

5. Is there any charge for applying or using Internet/Mobile banking?

No, currently there is NO charge for applying or using the facility. However, specific services like Demand Drafts will be charged as per the normal charges applicable for these services.

6. What types of accounts are visible through the Internet/Mobile Banking?

You can access almost all accounts that you maintain with the Sohar Islamic.

7. I have only a fixed deposit account with you. Will it be useful for me to apply for Internet/Mobile banking?

Yes, you can access details of your fixed deposit accounts.

8. Can I authorize someone to use my account?

No. Only you are authorized to operate your account and this is for the security of your own account.

9. How can I log in if I have forgotten my password?

Incase if you have forgotten your password, you need to regenerate your passwords. Regeneration is a request for another set of Passwords. For this you can call our call center on 24730000 or walk down to any of the Sohar Islamic branches and give a request for regeneration.

10. Can the customer add other accounts later to the existing Login Id?

As and when you open an account with the bank under the same customer id, it gets automatically linked to your existing login ID.

11. What needs to be collected from the branch once I register for Internet/Mobile Banking?

You will be provided a login id and set of passwords once you register for the internet banking service. The password set contains two sets of passwords;

  • Login password, which is used to access the account, and
  • Transaction Password, which is used for transaction as a second level of security that will be required when any transactions are done on the account
12. Should the customer keep any minimum balance in my account(s) to avail this facility?

There is NO stipulated separate minimum balance for maintaining Internet/Mobile Banking.

13. What will happen if the customer does not use Internet/Mobile banking for a long time after enabling the facility?

Internet/Mobile Banking will deny the access the accounts through internet unless the account is accessed at least once in 365 days. This is an in-built security measure to take care of the unattended accounts. However, it can be enabled by calling up the call centre.

14. What do you mean that the transactions are "Real-Time online"?

We have designed the Internet/Mobile Banking service in such a way that it takes your requests and acts on them immediately. All transactions that will affect your balance (except Demand Draft / Pay Order request and Fixed deposits closure) are done automatically by the system. All the balances that are displayed to you are as of that instant and would cover transactions done by you over any of our channels.

15. What kind of hardware and software are recommended for using the Internet banking more efficiently?

We recommend having the following configuration:

  • Hardware: Pentium PC with 32 MB RAM, 5 GB Hard Disk with 100 MB free space, and any operating system that supports the browsers mentioned below.
  • Software: Internet Explorer Version 9.0, Mozilla Firefox up to version 3.5, Google Chrome up to version 7 and Safar Apple Mac up to version 8
  • Display Setting: Best viewed on 1024 by 768 resolutions.

To access, the PC should have an internet connection

16. Why is my Internet/Mobile Banking Password not functioning?

There could be various reasons for the Internet Banking password not functioning:

  • The Internet/Mobile Banking Password is case-sensitive and may not have been entered in the same lower or upper case as mentioned.
  • The account has not been accessed for more than 365 days
17. How do I change my passwords?

By default, the system would direct you to change the passwords on 3 occasions:

  • Login in for the 1st time using the passwords given on registration.
  • Every time you receive the passwords once you regenerate the passwords.
  • You will need to change the passwords every 365 days.

Incase if you want to change the password at your convenience, the same can be done using the change password option. This is available in the personal preference section of the Internet/Mobile Banking.

18. What are the measures I can take to ensure greater security?
  • You should log-out from the Internet/Mobile Banking when you finish the transaction.
  • Have a screensaver password so that when you are away from your workstation nobody else can access it.
  • If you think someone knows your password go online and change it immediately
  • Always change your password continuously, choose "strong" 8 to 10 digit passwords (alphanumeric) and change them regularly; avoid obvious passwords (names of family members, pets, date of birth, etc), and don't tell anyone else your passwords.
  • You should not write a password down on any paper which may be easily accessible to anyone.
  • If you are using the Internet in a public place (e.g. a Cyber Cafe) do not leave the PC unattended, and ensure that no-one is watching what you type.
  • Logoff from Internet/Mobile Banking upon completion of your session. Use the Log-out button to Log out so that the session closes and don't shut the window to Log off.
  • You should have an updated antivirus on your PC.
  • To ensure complete confidentiality of your transactions, you are advised to clear the cache memory of the Internet browser. You may also delete all files including any offline contents from the temporary Internet Files Folder.
  • We would never contact you by email, SMS or phone calls to ask details on your account, your card or your Passwords and does not ask you for any personal information other than your user ID and password when you log into www.banksohar.net
  • Always start your session from the Sohar Islamic Home page i.e. www.soharislamic.net
19. Sometimes, when I try to log in at the Internet/Mobile Banking, I get the message "Connection not Established, Try Again...”

The connection between your PC and the server may not have got established properly because of multiple reasons. You can refresh and reload and try again. Incase if the problem persists, please contact us via email on netbanking@banksohar.net.

20. Whom should I contact if I have problem in accessing Internet/mobile banking?

You can contact our call centre at (+968) 2473 0000 or write to us at netbanking@banksohar.net.

21. How secure is Internet/mobile banking?

Sohar Islamic is committed to provide the safest Internet/mobile banking services to our valued customers so that all transactions involving financial and customer data are conducted in a safe and secure environment.

Adequate security features are in-built into our Internet/mobile banking to protect our customers. We use VeriSign's 128-bit encryption.

We also have virtual keypad functionality which avoids any key logger attacks. Additional security comes with the User ID and Password, which are provided to you by the bank to access your account. Moreover, our servers record all activity including Logon, Logoffs, and access violations.