What Is So Great About Online Banking

All of us, whether we like it or not, have to manage our finances. These days, many people opt for online banking as their preferred method of handling their bank accounts. But what makes online banking so attractive to so many people? Here are a few of the advantages that make online banking such a hit.

Some people have a fear of online banking, wondering how the banks manage to keep Internet pirates from grabbing access codes and making off with the money. Financial institutions in particular have a number of checkpoints that make it virtually impossible for someone to grab your credentials. In fact, your bank accounts are probably safer today since the advent of online banking than they were just twenty years ago.

Perhaps the single most attractive feature of online banking is the fact that you can access your accounts any time of the day or night. This feature allows you to check on available balances any time you like. You can know if a check or some other sort of debit has cleared your account, see if any pending deposits have been posted, and verify your balance at a time that is convenient for you. As an added bonus, you can transfer funds from one account to another, with the greatest of ease.

Many online banking packages also have a package you may use to create and mail checks directly from your account, rather than you having to do the checks manually. Basically, you establish a profile on each of the vendors you wish to pay with an electronic check. When you are ready to do your monthly bills, you simply log into your account, pull up the information on the vendor, and authorize a payment in the amount you wish. The check is printed and mailed on your behalf. Many people find the process takes them a fraction of the time it takes to write out a check by hand, address an envelope, lick a stamp, and then mail the payment.

Online banking also encompasses the ability to set up recurring payments. It is possible to establish electronic transfers from your account directly to your vendors each month. This process allows you to not even have to worry about whether or not the phone bill has been received and paid. Of course, you can change the status of a recurring payment any time you wish, and online banking systems always allow you to see what recurring payments have been processed in your current billing cycle.

Online banking can be a great help to anyone who would rather spend time in ways other than standing in line at the bank, or arranging your schedule to accommodate the hours that a bank is open. If you do not currently utilize online banking, contact your financial institution today. You may be surprised in the many ways online banking will make your life easier.

By : Craig Thornburrow
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on online banking and Barclays online banking services at http://www.onlinebankingadvice.com

Online Banking - Are You Banking Online Yet?

Online banking allows you to conduct all of your financial affairs without the fuss and inconvenience of the high street. With online banking you have virtually all the functions of checking, savings and credit accounts under one roof with none of the delay. Now there's absolutely no reason to go to the bank in person anymore. With just a cell phone and an internet connection, there's little reason to leave your home for anything at all, including a trip to the bank where you'll have to queue for an unreasonable period to do what you could easily do in the comfort of your own home. With online banking you can pay all of your bills right away and save on postage.

Just about every major banking chain provides at least some basic online banking functions. Every bank today, of course, has its own website, and just by registering on their site you can access at least some of the basic functions of any accounts you have with them. If your bank doesn’t have a website, well, maybe you should think about finding one that does. Another compelling reason to use online banking is because a lot of the larger banks charge all kinds of hidden fees just for using a live teller, therefore, online banking is a great way to cut costs too.

Today, there are also a number of banks that operate solely by way of online banking. At first I was a little skeptical when my brother suggested I try one of these ‘virtual banks’. Indeed, the name of the bank I went with is called Virtual Bank. I’m sure they had their reasons for choosing the name, however, it really doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence. I thought, "Am I going to deposit some real money only to get a virtual return?" I don’t think my landlord would understand if I sent him some virtual dollars to pay my rent, and I’m certain my stomach wouldn’t be fooled by a digital cheeseburger.

Well, as it turns out these banks have certainly capitalized on the online banking concept, and so represent a pretty good deal. Since they have eliminated the overhead costs of tellers and UHM banks, they are able to offer some of the highest interest rates available on your deposits. So long as you look into them beforehand and make sure they are FDIC insured, these online banks are a good alternative for savings accounts.

Nowadays I do all my banking online, and only find myself going to the bank in person whenever I need to exchange any currency. It’s pretty clear to me that online banking can only increase in popularity.

By : Willard West
Online Banking - Are You Banking Online Yet? Online banking allows you to conduct all of your financial affairs without the fuss and inconvenience of the high street. With online banking you have virtually all the functions of checking, savings and credit accounts under one roof with none of the delay. So are they worth it? In a word, yes! Read on to discover more.

Is Your Money Safe With Online Banking?

The total number of people who turn to the Internet for private banking isn't growing; but those who are already hooked on the service are using it more than they would the regular bank.

A research firm, which interviewed 1,000 American adults for the study, found that many consumers were anxious that their personal data could either be stolen by hackers or sold to 3rd parties by the banks. Nearly 83 % of those who conduct banking online report such concerns, while 73 % of respondents said private data stealing are a problem that holds them back.

The percentage of Americans who carry out personal banking actions online has stagnated at 39 percent in the 12-month period ending August 2005, Ipsos Insight said in a study released not long ago.

Additional information learned throughout this study shows that 88.4% of the Americans refusing to use online banking did not know that far more sensitive and private data is compromised constantly through the use of Microsoft software products, while 94.5% of those who choose to bank online were already aware of that, and 41.3% of that number had resorted to fairly drastic methods in the search for overcoming that particular problem.

The funny thing about this is that the weakest link in the chain sits on the user's desktop. No banking system online can not take away that risk.

Online Banking is a secure way to handle your money but you must to be on your guard against internet fraud. Make sure you follow this advice to bank safely online:
Ignore emails who claim to be from your bank that ask for your online details. They ask you to click on a link to a web site and enter your security data.
Con emails have a link that opens a false window over the real banks web site. Do not reveal any of your private or security information. Always check the validity of the banks web site by checking its security certificate, which you can do by clicking on the padlock icon on your browser.

Have you received an email asking for your internet banking details? Often bank customers receive fake emails asking them to confirm information such as Internet banking or Telephone banking User IDs, Passwords and Memorable Information. These are not valid emails.
If you receive such an email, please do not click on any link contained within it or provide any Internet banking or Telephone banking log on details as your bank would never send emails asking for this information.

By : Finn Jensen
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