The financial world: online banking reviews, part 1

The financial world: online banking reviews, part 1
Online banking is one of the fastest growing Internet activities: nearly half of all Internet users say that they are digital banking customers. Our reviews of online banking behemoths will let you compare internet banks and find the best services available. 

Online banking can be a lifeline for people who can’t leave the house, or live in rural areas where access to traditional bricks-and-mortar banks can be limited. With a PC and Internet connection, you can take advantage of all banking and financial tasks from home.

E-banking users have different needs that their online bank must fulfill to guarantee customer loyalty. Consequently, banks are taking great pains to make sure that all their customers get what they want: convenience and speed at low cost. 

At the same time, online banking terms and features can vary widely, so it makes sense to shop around if want to find the most suitable service. The first virtual banks were generally limited to high-yield savings accounts, but today's big names in the financial world offer much more services. 

HSBC 

Serving over 125 million customers across the globe, HSBC is a major player in the personal finance industry. Their simple and easy-to-navigate website interface reflects their core business principles: outstanding customer service and effective and efficient operations. The online banking offers a plenty of useful options. You can:

•    Pay bills to virtually anyone in the U.S. This service is free for all HSBC customers and comes with online, on-time guarantee.
•    Transfer funds between your HSBC accounts and your non-HSBC bank accounts, including financial institutions, credit unions and brokerage accounts.
•    Use EasyView service that lets users bring together all their accounts (including non-HSBC ones) on one page. For people who hate hopping from website to website, it can be a great time-saver. 
•    View all account balances and transactions. 
•    View copies of your posted check images. 
•    Place a stop payment on your personal HSBC checks and view up to 400 stop payments per checking account.
•    Obtain insurance quotes.
•    Request a credit card line increase.
•    Apply for HSBC products and services.
•    Take advantage of zero liability guarantee against unauthorized transactions. 

You must be an HSBC customer to sign up for online banking (you need to have an HSBC plastic card, a mortgage, home equity, savings, checking or loan account for authentication). The entire process will take you 10-20 minutes depending on how fast you type and how quickly you read. 

There is no special software needed to access online banking. Once you sign up, you will be able to access it anytime you want from HSBC's homepage. Online banking is free, although individual accounts such as money markets might have specific fees attached to them.

HSBC online banking is quite easy to navigate. All banking services are located in the grey column on the left, and a summary of your accounts is located on the right. Keep in mind that your online account may be canceled if there has been no activity for 6 consecutive months or suspended if there has been no activity for 3 consecutive months. 

Chase

Chase is the commercial banking brand of the well-known JP Morgan Chase & Co. This leading global financial services company operates in more than 60 countries. Chase provides their customers with a resourceful website interface with numerous links and additional information on finance. With the online banking, you can:
•    Pay bills online (this service is free with any account except Chase Basic Checking which will be charged $4.95 per month). The bank provides on time payment guarantee and allows users to track their payments from "Sent" to "Paid." 
•    Schedule a repeating payment.
•    Use Overnight Check service which will deliver an official check anywhere in the U.S. the next business day for $14.99. 
•    Make account transfers between Chase accounts. 
•    Wire transfers to bank accounts in the U.S. and abroad (fee may apply for transfers to non-Chase accounts). 
•    View account balances, statements and transactions.
•    Manage your Chase QuickChoice ATM preferences. 
•    View check images. 
•    Get free personalized alerts regarding specified activity on your Chase checking, savings, credit card, line of credit, and loan accounts.

It was challenging for us to find information about all services and options compared with other banks’ websites we explored. We hope that navigating the Chase website will be easier for registered users.

The application process might take more time than with some of their competitor's websites. You need to enter your personal information and your account or plastic card number to set up with online banking. 

After registration, you can view both business and personal accounts under a single User ID. Each online service has a tab. There are also quick links to the tasks you perform most often, so you don’t need to lose time looking for favorite services.

Citibank 

Citi has the world's largest financial services network, spanning 107 countries with about 12,000 offices worldwide. It combines a wide range of banking products with a top-notch website. The simple and user-friendly interface lets you find information about credit cards, debit cards, loans, mortgages and other financial accounts at Citi and other institutions. The website is the winner of the Keynote Q2 2008 Banker Scorecard.

With the online banking, you can:

•    Make free online bill payment to virtually anyone in the U.S. anytime you want. If your payee doesn't accept electronic payments, Citibank will generate a physical check and mail for you. 
•    Track all your payments online. 
•    Schedule a payment from the next day up to one year in advance.
•    Receive your statements and payee spending reports.
•    View and print checks you've written.
•    Use extensive funds transfer services within the U.S. or abroad to Citi and non-Citi accounts.
•    Accumulate ThankYou points every month if you make your payments online. 
•    Receive free e-mail and wireless alerts. 
•    Take advantage of SafeWeb® fraud protection against unauthorized transfers in your deposit accounts.

You must be a Citibank customer to sign up for online banking. Otherwise, click on the "Not a Customer? Open an Account" link to open an account online. The site offers useful comparison tools for you to make a good choice.
The main advantage of Citibank's online banking is its excellent bill pay service. It is more comprehensive than similar services offered by most of their competitors. You can make payment to any merchant and creditor you need even if they don’t accept electronic payments.