Who Needs Brick and Mortar? Top 5 Benefits of Online Banking
As more than half of American adults now
bank online, most bank websites are still clunky, poorly designed, and
challenging to use.
If you're thinking about ditching
traditional banks and avoiding all of their fees, the benefits of online
banking might be just what it takes to win you over. Rather than having to deal
with the hassle of brick and mortar banking, you might not know what to do with
all of the time and even money you can save.
1.
Unmatched Convenience
If you've ever been called
"lazy" by anyone from the boomer generation, they probably used the
term "banker's hours" to talk about your work ethic. This phrase
comes from the long-standing tradition of banks opening after many people head to
work and closing before many get out. This has always made it hard for the
average 9-5 worker to get to the bank on time.
With the rise of online banking,
we've seen fewer and fewer people complaining about that. Since you can even
open an account online now, there are even fewer reasons to go into a banking
location. If you have a bank that's fully online, they offer benefits than most
brick and mortar banks that are still trying to play catch-up.
Rather than having to carve time out
fo your day, you can do your banking from your phone or your computer while out
to lunch or sitting on the train. Say goodbye to long lines and wait times
because you'll never have to face that.
With easy access to all of your
accounts, you'll have less of a hassle and avoid having to go through the
details with a clerk. You can handle it all on your own.
2.
Fewer Fees
The simple fact of not having a
brick and mortar location, having no reason to pay staff, and no lights to keep
on keeps costs down for online banks. This means these savings can be passed
along to you. These banks have such low operating costs that there's no reason
for you to have to pay more than a few dollars to keep your account running.
Because banks have such absurd
overhead, they have to charge these ridiculous fees. The costs of staffing
along justify their need to charge you so much for overdrafts, printing checks,
or just keeping your account open.
However, they're not necessarily
providing you with more value for your money. If you don't get anything for all
that you're paying, you should consider going with an online bank.
3.
Deposits are a Breeze
Depositing checks at your
traditional bank requires you to make a trip out of your way to the bank. In
many cases, you can deposit through an ATM, but if for some reasons the machine
can't read your check, you're going to have to head into the branch. This means
potentially two trips to get your money, plus whatever period of time they make
you wait for your money.
With online banks, you can deposit
your money in an instant. Through their mobile application or website, you can
just snap a quick photo of your checks and it's in your account.
Online banking won't keep you from
using an ATM, however. Most of them offer you an ATM card that's compatible
with a large network of ATMs that you can get cash out of. You can even perform
your deposits at them.
4.
Impressive Yields
As stated above, all of the costs
that are cut by working with an online bank are brought back to you. One of the
ways that online banks attract new customers is by using these savings to give
back to their customers. If you decide to open a savings account with an online
bank, you're going to be impressed with what kind of interest you could get.
Don't just jump into a relationship
with a bank because you like the rate they offer. You need to look at the
details first. Calculate your earnings ahead of time on what they offer for CDs
and savings accounts. If you make the switch without doing the math, you could
end up in a situation that you're going to regret.
Comparison shop with every online
bank that seems interesting to you before you make the jump.
5.
Easy Money Management
One of the perks of working with an
online bank is that you can access and manage your money more easily than with
a traditional bank. Traditional banks require you to use clunky online
interfaces or even go into the bank if you want to move your money around. You
might be able to do some simple transfers but if you have substantial assets,
it might be a headache every time.
Paying bills or wiring money to
friends is easy with most online banking options. Use their simple dashboard
and you can check your accounts, move money around, apply for a new account, or
send out money. They make it easy for you to build and manage your wealth
without the headaches of having to send in paperwork, make phone calls, or
visit the branch.
Some online banks set up automated
savings accounts. Select this option if you have it so that you always have money for a rainy day. You can round
up purchases from your debit account and put away money for your next plane
ticket out of town.
For options that let you take out
loans, read here.
Unlock
More Benefits of Online Banking
Many of the benefits of online
banking are going to come down to you and your financial goals. If you're
interested in making the switch, you'll find lots of reasons that make you never
want to look back.
If you want to start getting your
money to make money, check out our guide for expert tips!
