Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Banking

As financial technology progressed, physical banks began to explore the option of offering online services. There’s no doubt that online banking can be convenient — whenever you turn on your computer or smartphone, your bank is there waiting for you — but there are other advantages, and disadvantages, as well.

• Advantages of Online Banking

Some advantages of online banking go hand-in-hand with simply being online; others are competitive advantages provided by online banks taking advantage of their cost structure. The most prominent benefits provided by online banking include:

• 24/7 account and service access

• Speed and efficiency

• Online bill payment

• Low overhead can mean low fees

• Low overhead can mean high interest rates on deposit accounts.

Here’s a look at these advantages one by one.

• 24/7 Account and Service Access

Online banks are accessible 24/7, as long as you have an internet connection. Some online banks, such as Ally Bank, take this perk one step further, giving you 24/7 phone access to a real-life customer service agent. This can be extremely helpful if you don’t have access to the internet, or if you feel you need the assistance of a human brain, rather than a computer algorithm.

• Speed and Efficiency

If you need to transfer money, apply for a new loan, or perform nearly any banking transaction, you’ll typically have to wait in line at a bricks-and-mortar banking location. With an online bank, there’s never any waiting. As long as you can log in, you can access your accounts, request a new credit card, or perform nearly any banking transaction you desire without driving down to a bank or waiting in line.

• Online Bill Payment

One of the great advantages of online banking is online bill pay. Rather than having to write checks or fill out forms to pay bills, once you set up your accounts at your online bank, all it takes is a simple click — or even less, as you can usually automate your bill payments. With online bill pay, it’s easy to manage your accounts from one central source and to track payments into and out of your account.

• Low Overhead Can Mean Low Fees

Online banks don’t have to pay for things like electricity, janitorial services, landscaping, or rent, so they can pass those savings along to customers. Typically, this means that online banks can charge fewer fees than traditional banks. For example, most online banks offer a free online checking account with no deposit, along with other no-fee bank accounts, such as IRAs. There are a number of online banks with free checking and no minimum balance; if you’re worried about applying for an account with bad credit, you might be able to open a bank account online for free, no credit check required, although there might be ongoing fees.

• Low Overhead Can Yield High Rates

In addition to offering low fees, online banks often have the best interest rates, whether you are looking for a certificate of deposit, a high yield checking account or deposit accounts with high interest, such as a money market account. Although rates fluctuate.

usually find that the banks paying the best interest rates are online banks.

• Disadvantages of Online Banking

No one type of bank can be the best at everything. In spite of their many advantages, there are some drawbacks to using online banks as well. Here are some of the downsides of working with an online bank:

• Technology issues

• Security issues

• Inefficient at complex transactions

• No relationship with personal banker

• Inconvenient to make deposits

Read on to learn more about these disadvantages.

• Technology Issues

In many ways, an online bank is only as good as your — or their — internet connection. If there’s a power outage, or if servers go down, you might not have any access to your account whatsoever. While some banks offer a phone number for customer service, it might be overwhelmed if online access is down. With a real bank, you can always find someone to talk to in the branch.

• Security Issues

While many online banks are reputable and well-established, sometimes it can be hard to feel comfortable with a bank that doesn’t have a physical presence, particularly when large sums of money are involved. If a website suddenly folds up, what will happen to your money? There’s also the risk of identity theft — or actual theft — if someone gains unauthorized access to your account via a hacked or stolen password or log-in credentials.

• Inefficient at Complex Transactions

Online banks might be able to transfer money between accounts or pay bills, but you might be more comfortable with an international, bricks-and-mortar bank if you have complex transactions. Worldwide, business-oriented banks like Chase have global transaction capabilities, such as the ability to send payments to more than 35 different currencies worldwide, that online banks might not be able to muster. Without a real-world presence, most online banks can’t even offer the services of a notary public, which require an in-person visit and necessary for most important financial transactions like buying a home.

• No Relationship With Personal Banker

Over time, you can develop a relationship with a personal banker if you visit a traditional bricks-and-mortar location. If you’re dealing with an online bank, on the other hand, you’re typically handed off to an anonymous customer service agent who is unlikely to know you from the next customer. If you’re really in a bind, financially speaking, having a relationship with someone who can help and who knows you well can be a major advantage over a strictly online banking relationship.

• Inconvenient to Make Deposits

Often time online banking posses difficulties to deposit physical cash due to No physical building programmed to accept deposit