Even if you don't know the
difference between a fishing net and the Internet, or you think a web is
something you clean out of the attic, you can still be a pro at online
banking. It's easy, convenient and, best of all, safe -- maybe even
safer than the traditional banking that has served you for so many
years.
Bank from Your Living Room
Forget about "bankers' hours."
With a few clicks and keystrokes, you can have all your accounts and
up-to-the-minute financial information on the screen in front of you, 24
hours a day, seven days a week. Transfer funds, pay bills, balance your
accounts or apply for a loan -- all from your sofa, your SUV or Sydney,
Australia.
Online banking has come of age,
thanks to the ease of the Internet, and most banks -- and even local
credit unions -- now offer the option of transacting your financial
business from the comfort of your living room.
"It's a no-brainer, really," said
Tracey Weber, managing director of Internet and mobile for Citi, one of
the largest full-service financial institutions in the world. "There is
an education process and an awareness process, but each day, more people
are switching over."
Just Follow the Prompts
First, contact your financial
institution to find out whether it offers online banking services. Or do
a search online to find the website. Have your account number handy.
"Any Citibank customer can enroll online with their account number," Weber said.
Most other financial institutions
that offer online services provide the same ease of enrollment. When you
get to the website, just follow the prompts. Different institutions
will use different language, but look for words and phrases such as
"enroll," "get an online account" or "get a user ID."
When you click on the prompt,
you'll be taken through several simple steps to create your online
"account," complete with a password that only you and your bank will
know. In just a few minutes, you'll have access to your bank accounts,
credit card accounts, loans and any other services you access through
your bricks-and-mortar bank.
Don't worry about entering your
personal information -- just look for the letters "https" in the
navigation bar and a padlock at the bottom of the Web page. These
features indicate that your information is secure, usually through the
use of encryption, which encodes your information so that unauthorized
parties cannot access it. You can also click on the padlock to view the
site's security information.
If you do not see one or both of
these features, do not enter any personal information onto the page.
Click "log out" or "sign out" and call your financial institution for
help.
Your Money at Your Fingertips