The fastest, most convenient way to access one’s bank account information, online banking has gained widespread acceptance for its ease, accessibility and security. From a home computer, users can log onto their bank account and initiate transactions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Benefits of Online Banking

There are numerous reasons online banking has gained its reputation as the new way to bank. First, it’s convenient. An account holder may access their information at anytime and from any computer connected to the Internet. Next, users can save the time and gas involved with driving to their local brick-and-mortar bank. Most importantly, online banking is increasingly secure. High regulation standards help in providing privacy and protection of account information.

With online banking, account holders also have access to a wide range of services. For instance, online banks offer their customers the ability to quickly review account information. Customers can view a summary for savings and checking or other accounts in one convenient location. Online banking also offers detailed account information, including payment histories, balances, and due dates on loans. Users may transfer monies between accounts, or in some cases, to other institutions where an account is held. Payments can be made on loans and customers may even calculate how much they can afford to borrow with an online loan calculator. Especially attractive, online banking allows customers to pay their bills, such as utilities and other obligations, from their home computer.

The bill pay feature has allowed customers to forego paying bills with checks, stamps, envelopes, and hassle. Customers can make payments to nearly anyone who would normally receive payment by way of a check. Both one-time and recurring payments can be set up with an online bank’s bill pay service. Once a bill is received, users simply log onto their computer and schedules payment for any day of their choice. Payments are made on time, making bill paying easier than ever.

A very practical service for some online banking accounts is the option which allows banking access to family members or other persons specified by the account holder. This feature allows joint owners of accounts full or limited access to specific transactions, such as account balance inquiries, transfers, bill payments, and more. For instance, an account holder might give access to a son or daughter at college to allow transfers in specified amounts into a specific account. It’s also useful for those who have someone sharing a repayment in a bill – giving them payment access to the bill pay service.

Another feature, online banking alerts, is sent to an email or cell phone via text message. Set up by a user based on preference, alerts provide instant information regarding an account balance or other transaction. For example, balance limit alerts are received when a balance goes above or below an amount the user has specified. Transaction alerts are received if a direct deposit is received, when a check clears, a withdrawal is made, or a purchase is made with a credit card. Alerts can also be set up to communicate bill payments that have been made.

With the phenomenal growth of online banking, banks continue to develop effective security features, creating peace of mind for customers and a wall of protection against identity theft. Users should always opt in for the additional security features offered by their bank. These programs may prompt a security question, such as a mother’s maiden name, if it does not recognize the computer from which a user is accessing the account. Customers should also look for “https” in the URL as well as a locked padlock icon in the lower corner of the screen. Most importantly, personal identification numbers (PINs) that use a combination of random numbers and letters will be much harder for a hacker to break through.

Another security feature of online banking is that it can be monitored nearly in real time. For those who think online banking is risky, a recent study by a major research firm found that the average days it takes to detect fraud for online account holders is 18 days. For those who monitor accounts from their monthly statements, it took an average of 114 days before fraud was discovered. It’s hard to deny that online banking is fast becoming the more secure way to handling and protecting finances.

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Bill Rancic (from the Apprentice) talks about shopping online paying cash, and protecting yourself against fraud or identity theft. Brought to you by eBillme | www.eBillme.com

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There was a day when personal banking required a trip to the bank, standing in often long lines, and making a transaction via a bank teller. Money was accessible only at a brick and mortar location. Any financial needs not taken care of by the end of the business day would have to wait until the next. Access to one’s money was dictated largely by the bank’s hours of operation.

Times have changed. Today, with the advent of the Internet, accessibility to one’s finances is more convenient than ever. With online banking there are no long lines or gas-guzzling drives to the bank. Transactions, bill payment and ordering new checks can all be accomplished with the click of a button in the comfort of one’s own home. ATMs allow instant access to cash. For some people, there is no brick and mortar bank behind their online accounts – their banking is conducted entirely with an Internet bank.

In fact, online banking has become the preferred transaction method for most of America’s banking customers. While an online transaction can take just under three minutes, it can take nearly 10 minutes at a bank to conduct that same transaction due to waiting in line and interacting with a branch teller.

While some may have questioned the validity of online banking in the 1990s, it has proven to be one of the most valuable assets banks can offer their customers today. While fewer than one in seven Americans were online in 1995, two out of every three Americans are online today, according recent statistics. Americans are surfing the web, conducting e-commerce, and examining their bank statements from their personal computers at rates much faster than in the time those things could be accomplished apart from a computer.

With the advent of the Internet in the 1990s, confidence in this new form of collecting and transferring information was an obvious pathway for banks to pursue. It gave bank customers what they never had before — access to their money 24/7. Features have become more sophisticated and user friendly through the decade. Today’s banks offer online banking services which allow users to conduct a variety of transactions – everything from account to account transfers and paying bills to applying for a loan or making an investment. Especially convenient, online banking allows users to instantly view their accounts, balance the books, and monitor spending. And with the use of personal finance programs, data can be easily imported making personal financial management easier than ever. Some banking programs even allow users to monitor all of their accounts at one site regardless if they are with their main bank or with another institution.

Online banking has also opened doors for those shopping for a loan. Online lenders make applying for a loan easy and convenient, including everything a customers needs to make an application, including application forms and instant assistance on their website. The success of these types of services have allowed consumers to seek the best terms and have brought about a new level of competition between banks looking to expand their bottom line.

One of the most important features to the growth of online banking has been the development of protection barriers to safeguard users and their money. Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and/or passwords have allowed users to authenticate and protect accounts and transactions.

Indeed, the Internet has proven to be a powerful and growing tool for today’s consumers. Through it, online banking has provided customers more control over their finances and freed up time that would have been spent standing in a bank line. But as with many things, precaution and education are important elements for online banking customers. At the end of the day, online banking succeeds only with the vigilance of the banks and their customers.

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Additional improvements for online banking in QuickBooks 2009 were made available in late March. For details on this and prior improvements, visit intuitcommunity.com The QuickBooks team has improved the online banking experience in QuickBooks 2009. The following updates will become available in late March for QuickBooks Pro, Premier, and Enterprise 2009 solutions: You will be able to access other areas of QuickBooks while you have the online banking Add transactions to QuickBooks window …

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