Online Banking Or The Personal Touch?

While there have been many changes to the banking industry over the last 20 years, some good, some bad, one element continues to attract the most debate - the lack of a personal touch.

Gone are the days when a customer of the bank could build up a relationship with their account manager, gone are the days when the bank would do loyal customers “a favour”. Everything now a days seems to be driven by predefined formulaes and risk assessment, taking out the human touch, and human understanding of a situation.

This seems to have affected the small business market the most, with many entrepreneurs experiencing a none contact relationship with their bankers. They appear to be just another number, another customer, and very often the banks will not have an in depth understanding of the business. Basic figures and balance sheets are fed into the banks main decision making systems, a risk assessment produced, and an instant often non-negotiable decision. No chat, no additional information required, a decision purely based on cold hard statistics.

While the non contact approach by many UK financial institutions has been pilloried by many, there are a number of people who would rather bank on line, and arrange additional finance online. They are very happy to be dealing with a automated system which can give an answer almost immediately, rather than go through the hassle of going into the bank and sitting down with an account manager - who very often has limited control to change or adapt any of the banks initial decisions.

Has Online Banking Assisted Banking Customers?

Without doubt the onset of online banking has been of great assistance to banking customers, whether personal or business accounts. As well as allowing people to receive decisions almost immediately, it has also allowed potential customers to “shop around” all over the country and apply to the most relevant financial institution online, wherever they may be based.

The ability to now monitor your accounts online has also offered great assistance in the fight against fraud and other financial crimes. Very often online checking has allowed customers to spot problems earlier than possible prior to online banking. As reported cases of fraud continue to grow, this online monitoring is becoming more and more essential.

While some still mourn the death of “personal” banking, and there is no doubt that it does have a place in the business community, overall the internet has offered the chance for quicker decisions on loan applications, etc and the ability to shop around.

All in all online banking has assisted in ensuring a more competitive attitude amongst the leading financial institutions, as niche market players enter the online market, looking to attack some of the traditional banking business.

By : Tosif Patel
UK Loans

Future of Online Banking

No matter where online banking comes from or where it is today, it is most certainly here to stay. As a tool of modern living and as a lifestyle aid, it is absolutely indispensable. The fact is that many services that are now being offered with online banking are almost impossible to avail of in regular banking. This holds even truer for developments that the future of online banking will bring.

Judging by its current popularity and rate of implementation, online banking will increase in scope and user base in the future. Individuals and businesses that have refused to adopt it as a commercial tool before now will not really be left with much choice. As things stand now, using conventional methods of business inquiry, confirmation, order-placement and bill payment is retrograde at best. The speed (and reduced manpower) with which the same activities can be done online leaves the traditional methods completely in the shade. The same holds true for normal vs. online business-related banking.

In a domestic setting, too, shopping has been and will continue to be revolutionized by the Internet option. Payments for goods bought online will almost always be done via a bank-related credit card or direct deduction from a bank account.

However, traditional biases against online banking are not going to be overcome entirely by hard facts and figures in its favor. The rate at which this sector of banking will grow will depend on how many user-friendly facilities are incorporated, the additional facilities that will be added and the way the concept is packaged for the general public.

It is unfortunately a fact that banks and their customers have rarely agreed on what is a useful facility and what isn’t. A lot of market research and customer polling will be required before the gap between what is needed in banking and what is available is filled. When that finally happens, the final frontier of online banking will indeed be explored.

By : Ross Bainbridge
Online Banking provides detailed information on Online Banking, History of Online Banking, Online Banking Services, Future of Online Banking and more. Online Banking is affiliated with Offshore Banking Accounts.

The Dos And Don'ts Of Online Banking

One of the biggest additions to the banking world in recent memory has been the advent of online banking. It has made banking so much more convenient for consumers. Likewise, it has also helped banks in lowering their costs considerably. With that said though, there are some dos and dont's that you need to be aware of when opening up an online bank account.

Do's

Is the online bank you're considering doing business with FDIC insured? This is important, because if they are not, move on to a bank that is. FDIC insures that all savings accounts, checking accounts, and CD deposits are covered up to $100,000.

Be certain that the Internet banks website that you're on is the real website. As hard as it can be to imagine, online criminals have made up websites that nearly identical to the banks actual website in hopes of conning you into getting your personal information.

Always look over all your bank statements, credit card statements, etc., and check to make sure everything looks right. If you do find something that is questionable, talk to your bank immediately.

Make sure you keep your password and account login information in a safe and secure place. Never share this information with anyone, especially through an email. When you come up with passwords, never use birthdates or social security numbers.

Do keep your anti-virus protection software up to date on your computer. It's also a good idea to back-up your files on a regular basis. You really don't want to take chances in this area.

Always completely log off your online banking website. Don't simply "X" out of it.

Change any of the auto-generated passwords you are given when you first open up an online bank account.

Keep up to date on all the information about your online banks security measures. Ask what kind of protection they offer? Compare it to other Internet banks security systems.

Don'ts

Don't send personal information to anyone in an email. You may think it is secure, but it is not.

Don't give out your personal information over the telephone unless you are absolutely certain of who you are dealing with. You also need to know what this person is going to do with your information when you give it to them.

Don't have other browsers open at the same time you are doing your Internet banking transactions.

Don't open emails from folks you don't do business with. If you ever get an email from your bank asking you for personal information, call the bank first before doing anything else. Ask them about the email and find out what is going on. If it is legitimate, which I doubt it is since banks don't conduct business like that, then you can take care of it right there over the phone.

Opening an online bank account is great. I've had an Internet account for years now, and never had any issues with it. It has become such a convenient way of life now that I would never consider anything else. If you will follow these simple dos and don'ts, you'll find the same convenience with online banking as I have.

By : Terry Edwards
Discover more information on the Do's And Don'ts Of Online Banking as well as information on banking, loans and investments at http://www.Banking.InfoFromA-Z.com

A Preview of Your Online Banking Security Benefits

The past decade has seen a great deal of change within the business of banking. Banking the old fashion away is no longer cost efficient or effective. Today, banks are encouraging their clients to bank and invest online whenever possible. Once way in which banks “encourage” their patrons is to charage larger fees for personal services which were once free. If you are getting charged any fee at all for your banking services you definitely need to shop around for a new bank.

Why is online banking so popular?

Some banks are simply not tech savvy enough to have the available online tools which can meet a modern investor's needs. Especially if you have a long history with a particular bank and you would rather not start over someplace else. You may want to inquire at your bank if they have any type of low cost checking or saving programs. Any service that requires human contact with a customer costs more money. Paying tellers and personal bankers is extremely expensive for a bank and they would much rather have the majority of their customers use the automated online, phone, and atm services. Training employees, uniforms, benefits, and overhead costs like rent on the branch office all cost money. But with the development of online banking and investment none of those things are any longer necessary.

Is investing online safe?

Investment companies also all their clients to invest and do research online. They have made available information that the casual investor simply could not get their hands on a decade ago. Now investment companies have company and stock profiles, investment tips, charts, guides, and even practice demos for online trading. Another benefit of online investing is that it can be any time of day. Clients love the ease of access and people can trade stocks from the privacy and comfort of their own homes. If you choose to do your investing online remember there will a small fee (less then a financial advisor fee) associated with each time you buy and sell stock. Make sure that when you give your money to an online investment company that you have research the company and they have long history of successful investing both online and off. Fraudulent activity online is fairly common and can be avoid if you are smart and educated investor.

Whether you do banking or investing online be sure to read the find print of the services offered. Double check the company's privacy policy. You want to make sure they are not going to sell your email address, home address, or phone number to telemarketing companies.

Certainly a check-less or paper-less system is also beneficial. It has been estimated that in the past each transaction made at bank cost a total of $4 dollars. Today, each internet transaction costs a total of 10 cents. The difference is all profit to the bank. There are some risk associated with online banking and investing however if you are careful with your personal information and choose the right institutions to do business with this concern will never be a reality.

By : Ewelike Chikaodi
Visit the Global Investment Institute and signup for our free Investing For The Beginner E-Course at http://www.Global-Investment-Institute.com Investment webmasters or publishers, please feel free to use this article provided this reference is included and all links remain active.