Banking online is not a novelty anymore and almost all the banks in US are now offering some or most of its services through the online mode. This has made the life of the consumers far easier and would also make the banks to reap benefits of offering such services online. At the same time, there are many other banks that have been cropping up which seems to exist only in the ‘cyber space’. Although these banking sites offer many tempting offers, it is in the best interest of the consumer to think twice before transferring your vital assets in to the coffers of these banks.
When considering selecting an online bank, one of the foremost things that you need to assess is your requirement. Choosing and opening an account in such banks and to transfer funds in to them should be done with perfect sense and should be driven by the need rather than doing it because others say so. Thus, a person should have the knowhow to choose such an online bank from the vast number of banks available and following are only several tips that would facilitate in making such a decision.
-Is it trustworthy or is insured
All banks in the US should be insured in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the FDIC site will offer anyone with the facility to find out which banks are liable for coverage according to their policies. Thus, it is one of the most important ways of finding out, how trustworthy these banks are.
-Do they charge fees or do we have to maintain a minimum balance
Although most of the online banks would stress they do not require start up fees nor do they require a minimum balance in the account, checking it up with the company policies would be vital before embarking on opening an account.
-Is the interest rates competitive?
Comparing the interest rates of various banks would give you a better idea about the online bank that you are hoping to select.
-What do the others say?
It is always good to hear the comments made by others and the internet is a great resource to check such comments in so many forums. Thus, it will trigger you to further look into certain aspects of the banks functioning although some of the comments made in these forums are not necessarily trustworthy.
Following assessing these points you can further look into the presence of a physical location for that particular bank. Although it is not mandatory, it would be always good to know that you have a place to visit if there are any doubts.