You’ve been planning a beautiful, fun-filled vacation for months now, but you are starting to think about opening up a savings account specifically for this vacation. You just don’t want to go to the trouble of going to a brick-and-mortar bank to do it. Should you open an online banking account?
A lot of people are making the jump to mobile banking apps. Physical branches aren’t totally out-of-fashion just yet, as most folks do still visit branch locations. They’re just not doing it as often.
You lead a busy life and don’t have time to go running to the bank all the time. Online banking options can help you meet your financial goals without all the stress and hassle of trying to get to a branch location before it closes at the end of the day. Here are five benefits of online banking that people are reaping.
Saving Time
Studies show that at least 65.3 percent of American adults use digital banking services. The amount of people using digital banking has increased by approximately 4 percent from 2018 to 2022. Whether you are trying to deposit a check or want to transfer money from checking to savings, you can do so in a timely fashion. You get 24/7 access to your accounts, and most deposits are processed within just one business day.
Easy-to-use Sites/Apps
The apps and sites built for online banking are designed to be user-friendly. There are features that require a little bit of setup, but after you have done that, you can access whatever you need on the site. Studying which tabs take you where on the site involves a short learning curve, and if you run into questions, help is just one live chat or phone call away.
Banking from Anywhere
Whether you need to get a no credit check loan through an online bank or if you just want to ditch your traditional bank because it is too inconvenient, you can benefit from online banking’s ability to be done anywhere.
You don’t have to get off the couch or run out on your lunch hour to try to make it to the bank. Just get onto a secure WIFI network and do whatever it is you need to do on the app or website.
Lower Fees and No Hidden Fees
Traditional banks often slam you with unexpected or seemingly high fees. Who wants to pay $4-$5 just to withdraw $20 from an ATM that’s out-of-network? With most online banking sites, you will incur only minimal fees for your transactions and won’t be charged those random hidden fees that some traditional banks seem to delight in. Of course, it is always a good idea to check the terms each bank has set up to make sure you know what you’re signing up for.
Online Banking is Secure
You might be wondering how secure online banking is, and if you could jeopardize your info and money by signing up. The truth is, there are many layers of protection available for online banking customers.
You can start by setting up facial recognition on your smartphone if the operating system allows for it. Also, apps and websites use things like two-factor authentication and a list of security questions with answers only you would know to help keep you safe. Your details are highly encrypted, making it incredibly difficult for hackers to get into your account.
Take a break and don’t sweat your next bank run. Online banking allows you the freedom to do your banking from anywhere, at any time, and without all the fees your traditional brick-and-mortar bank might be trying to charge you.
