by Adam Lee Buller

Created on: July 23, 2008   Last Updated: August 14, 2008

There are two things in life we all want to have more of, Time & Money! Yet for some reason with the complexity of modern day living and despite all our time saving devices and gadgets we seem to have less and less of them both!

Along with the endless stream of bills to drop through our letterbox comes the hassle of having to pay them! Endless trips to the bank and telephone calls to utility companies, all of which seem to have a minimum call wait time of around 30 minutes and often on a premium rate phone number!

Well, thankfully with time and technology some things do get easier. I recently discovered the online banking revolution and since doing so now pay everything online, much to the pleasure of my local golf club as the time I've gained in doing so has given them a new member. Since I've gained so much from banking online I want to share with you some of the benefits and tips on how to make it work for you.

* Getting started *

To begin to enjoy the benefits of online banking first you need to register with your bank. You can usually do this your on banks website, in your local branch or by making a telephone call to your bank if this service is available. They will then run through your security details and send you a user name and password, through the post for security reasons, which you can then input on your banks website to get you up and running. Your password can be changed at a later date to one you can more easily remember!

* THE BENEFITS *

SAVE TIME - No more waiting in the bank or on the phone to pay bills or to move money between your accounts. You can also move money between accounts with the same bank instantly. Once you've logged in you can do it all at the click of a button.

SET IT AND FORGET IT - Once you have input the account details of the company and bill you want to pay, the online system will store this information so that next time all you have to do is input the amount you wish to pay and click confirm! Alternatively why not set up a regular payment to leave your account automatically on your bill due date each month!

CONVENIENCE - No more rushing to the bank at dinner times, you can pay your bills 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from the comfort of your own home or anywhere you can access the internet!

ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATION - You can order replacement cards, paying in books and stationery online!

SECURITY - Probably the most important thing to us all! As you are managing your accounts online you can regularly check your account activity and due to the stringent security procedures employed by banks it makes online account fraud highly unlikely. If however you do suffer any loss due to online fraud you will be covered by a guarantee from your bank to ensure you get your money back.

* SOME TIPS *

1. To remain safe never write down your personal details. Also be wary of any unsolicited emails or websites that ask for these details, if in any doubt as to whether a email or website is legitimate contact your bank and ask.

2. Always check account details you have entered when paying a bill as one wrong digit could result in your money being sent to the wrong destination.

3. Most of the big retailers, utility and credit/store card companies will have their account details already programmed into your banks online system so always look for these using the bill pay or search facility.

4. If possible print the page that confirms your bill has been paid as proof!

5. Finally always delete any payee's that you no longer use as this can reduce confusion when you pay bills in future!

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