Online banking has taken off to stratospheric heights in the last 10 years but, if the truth is told, ALL banks transact their business online, whether you do or not! Banks are connected via secure Internet connections and send and receive monies virtually every second of the day, so it’s more than a little humorous to talk with someone who insists that online banking isn’t secure or that it makes them uncomfortable.
All banks are subject to the same laws and regulations as traditional banks, and both traditional and online accounts are protected by the FDIC (up to the limits prescribed by law).
There are a lot of great reasons to bank online, but there ARE a few negatives.
Pros of banking online
Convenience
For my money (no pun intended), online banking is extremely easy and convenient. I can conduct my banking business 24/7/365 and I don’t have to worry about yet another “bank holiday.”
Mobile service
Furthering the convenience factor, I can bank on my iPhone. Not all online banks offer this service but one of my favorite banks (Ally Bank) does.
Services
Since online banks don’t have branches you can easily waltz into, they have to insure that their online interface is full of services you need. These may include budgeting, loan calculators, and equity trading platforms. They may also offer free online bill paying, checks, online tax forms, and tax preparation.
Superior rates
The lack of significant infrastructure and overhead costs allow direct banks to pay higher interest rates on savings and charge lower mortgage and loan rates. Some offer high-yield checking accounts, high-yield CDs, and no-penalty CDs for early withdrawal. Some accounts can be opened with no minimum deposits (Ally Bank) and carry no minimum balance or service fees.
Rewards
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Cons of banking online
Not everything is peaches and sunshine where it concerns online banking. There ARE a few negatives:
A lack of a relationship
It’s difficult to have a “relationship” with an online entity (unless you’re really weird). I can remember my father having a great banking relationship with his banker to the point that my father could buy a car, write the check for it over the weekend, and later call his banker who would tell him, “I’ll make sure the check is covered. Just come in next week sometime and we will get the paperwork filled out.” Without that relationship, nothing like that could happen.
Services
Traditional banks can offer their most loyal customers certain services that online banks cannot. These could include certain types of insurance, preferred rates on CDs or loans, or investment advice at no charge (get great investment advice with WiserAdvisor).
Difficulty handling complicated transactions
Let’s face it, there are times you need to meet face to face because a transaction is complicated. Last winter my wife and I had to deposit an insurance settlement check and it required my mortgage company’s signature as well as mine and my wife’s – and those signatures had to be verified by my banker. That would be extremely difficult if we banked solely online.
How to overcome the small negatives of online banking
Well, there’s no way to overcome the lack of a relationship, the variance in services offered, or the difficulty in handling complicated transactions unless you have both a traditional account AND an online account. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing – Perkstreet even recommends it.
Some traditional banks may waive their monthly fee (fees are ridiculous anyway), if you have one direct deposit per month. The way I overcome this is to have my employer spilt my payroll direct deposit so that my mortgage payment goes into my traditional bank and the balance goes into my online bank. My mortgage is held at my traditional bank so it makes things doubly easy.
Internet banks have done a lot to increase the competition for your business. Both online and traditional banks offer their own unique benefits as well as their drawbacks so it may be wise to split your banking between the two. That way you get to enjoy the best of both banking worlds — the conveniences and savings of internet banks and the customer service and personal relationships of a grounded bank.
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I really like how easy it is to use when I travel. I also like how quick it is. I hate waiting on hold on the phone lines to get a transaction done.
You and me both! Online banking has been a wonderful benefit of the Internet.
Hello Mr. Haynes. Thanks for writing this article. I like the way you illustrated the differences between online Banking and traditional banking. Thanks for the tips, I really appreciate it. Ken
You’re welcome, Ken. Glad you enjoyed the article. Online banking is obviously here to stay!
I’d say it is still a lot better if you are having a face to face transaction with your bank. All your questions and doubts will be answered right away. But as a busy mom, I prefer doing online banking for convenience and time-saver.