Do you bank online?

One thing you have to become accustomed to if you live in Jamaica is waiting in long lines. Ironically I noticed that the lines are worse just when you need to complete your transactions quickly.

Banks

I know how everyone talks about waiting at government offices but I have a special distress when it comes to waiting in line at banks.  First of all it seems as if banks feel we have to use their services as they spend little time ensuring that their customers get through with their transactions quickly.

I once waited in line for three hours at a bank and I was certainly unhappy about the experience. Bank officials seem to be sending a clear message, which is don’t come in, bank online!

Banking online allows you to securely bank anytime and anywhere you want as long as you have access to the internet. You can use your computer (or, with some banks, your smartphone) to check your balance, transfer money and pay bills on the go.

Problems with Online Banking

Banking online reduces the need to go inside local bank branches but it’s not without its own problems. First of all not everyone is tech savvy and so they easily become frustrated when they are unable to access their account.

Safety is also a big issue as there has been an increase in scamming and unscrupulous persons can hack online accounts to steal information. I have heard of  cases where money was transferred from one account to another without the owner’s permission.

Some people simply take comfort in being able to talk to another human being face-to-face if they experience a problem. They don’t like the impersonal nature of using a computer to complete their transaction and so avoid using the technology.

Not all online transactions are immediate. Online banking is subject to the same business-day parameters as traditional banking. Therefore, printing out and keeping receipts is still very important, even when banking online.

It is also important to keep your account number and password safe and log off especially when using public computers.

So should you bank online? Well it does offer certain advantages and the best one is leaving the long lines behind!

What’s your take? Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner online Writer

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