5 Benefits of Online Banking
Most banks allow online banking services that will enable you to pay your bills, transfer money, and reach a record of your checking account transactions from your web browser. Banking from the rest of your sofa will make everything you do with your finances a little easier at any time of the day or night. Here are 5 benefits of online banking.
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5 Benefits of Online Banking
Pay Your Bills Online
You can utilize your bank’s website to pay your bills online and never trouble your check getting missed in the mail. Most leading banks have a section in which you set up payees. You will want to fill out the information once, and then you can take that payee every time you need to pay from that company.
Most banks will allow you to set up a recurring automatic payment in the same amount every month. The feature helps an expense like a car payment or insurance policy that doesn’t change from month to month.1
Alternatively, you can authorize a payee, so as an electric utility or mortgage provider, to automatically debit the cost of the money you owe from your account. You can now set up the automatic debit by first going to the company’s website and creating an online log-in if you haven’t previously done so. You will then want to go to the billing or payments part of the website and click on a link that discusses automatic payments. You will have to give the number of the checking account you need the money to be debited from and your bank’s routing number.2
View Your Transactions
Online banking provides you to access your account history and transactions from anywhere. This is the fastest way to see whether a transaction has cleared your account. It also allows you to find out about any unauthorized transactions more soon, so you can dispute them right away.
Several banks will show you your pending transactions. These are transactions that were received on the popular business day or after the close of business on the earlier business day and so have not yet been completed.
Pending transactions may not show the exact amount of the buying. For example, when you pay for a bill at a restaurant by your debit card, the fee will often not be included in the pending transaction cost. The entire amount, including information, will be shown in your account once your bank has authorized the total payment.3
Transfer Money Between Accounts
You can instantly transfer money between accounts if you do it online. It’s more comfortable than going to a bank in person or using an automated phone service, asking you to give information when prompted.4
If you transfer money between different types of accounts at the same bank, the transfer should go through on the same day.5 If you’re moving money into an account at another bank, it may take up to three days.6
If you have more than one savings goal—say, for the down payment on a home and the price of a wedding—you might think of opening various savings accounts and quickly transfer money from your checking account into them. Savings accounts do have lower minimum balance conditions than checking accounts—and any banks don’t need one at each—so you won’t have to start with a bunch of money.
Bank on Your Phone By a Mobile App
Most banks allow a mobile app that enables you to take advantage of online banking on your phone more efficiently. You can instantly check up on your accounts if you are out shopping, transfer funds, so you don’t finish up overdrawing, or make sure a merchant hasn’t double-charged you.
Banking apps typically allow you to deposit checks using the camera on your phone to take photos of the front and the check’s endorsed back. You regularly have to write something like “For mobile deposit just at [name of bank]” on the back of the review as well. Ensure you are utilizing your banking app on a secure network; to skip having sensitive information stolen, nevermore access it using public Wi-Fi.7
Sync With Your Budget Applications
Various budgeting apps—so as Mint and PocketGuard—can be synced with your online banking information. This feature makes sticking to your budget much more comfortable.
If you have a spouse and partner you share bank and credit card accounts with, you might need to look for an app that enables you to sync your info with each other easily.