| This article is for people who have a computer and | | | | Besides, online services are time-saving. Customers |
| at least one credit card. The matter is those who | | | | are also stimulated to do banking online: for example, |
| have both the devices, can manage their finance | | | | they are not charged fees for payments. Besides, |
| pretty well with the help of online banking services. It | | | | one is not supposed to spend extra money on |
| is not only online credit card applications . Banks also | | | | mailing or trips to the bank. |
| offer online access to your credit card account, online | | | | Everything seems extra-advantageous! But some |
| credit card payments and other ways of your credit | | | | people still hesitate about choosing online banking |
| management. | | | | instead of traditional services. These are the reasons: |
| Why do banks promote online banking so actively? | | | | * It can be not quite safe sometimes. Banks really do |
| * It is quick and convenient. You do not have to | | | | their best to provide outstanding security of their |
| spend your precious time on going to the bank | | | | web-sites and convince people in safety of the |
| office, filling out and posting numerous papers etc. | | | | services. However, there are numerous viruses and |
| You just make your payments, receive your detailed | | | | Trojan programs spread in the net, and in case of |
| statements and make other operations via the | | | | weak anti-virus software on your computer, your |
| Internet, at the site of your bank. A statement will | | | | data can be hacked. There are also fake bank sites |
| be sent right to your e-mail or you will have access | | | | (they look like genuine sites, but addresses differ) |
| to your personal online account. | | | | and malicious emails that can be spoofing for |
| * It is safe. Banks maintain that all the online | | | | consumers. However, the risk of identity theft is |
| operations - applications, payments etc - are safe | | | | higher if you receive credit card statements and send |
| and secure. The pages where you enter your | | | | applications through the mail. |
| personal information are protected by data security | | | | * Computers and Internet can sometimes fail. |
| protocols (Secure Sockets Layer, for example). Thus, | | | | Besides, you cannot control the operation after you |
| the information is encrypted to be unavailable for | | | | enter all the data and click 'Submit'. |
| abusers. Statistics show that identity theft via | | | | * The danger to your safety also includes the danger |
| stealing bank mail is more frequent than via the | | | | of losing money and time. |
| Internet. | | | | As you see, all the benefits of online banking have |
| * It is cheap. Banks have a special interest in | | | | dark sides. Each of us should decide whether to sign |
| developing online banking because it reduces the | | | | up for it or go on using traditional banking services. |
| costs. All the operations and processing is carried out | | | | Independent of your decision, banks will go on |
| electronically. The company does not have to hire | | | | promoting online services as a modern and cheap |
| personnel, rent or buy new offices and equipment. | | | | way to serve customers. |