internet banking – PSafe Blog https://www.psafe.com/en/blog Articles and news about Mobile Security, Android, Apps, Social Media and Technology in general. Thu, 19 Jan 2023 14:49:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cropped-psafe_blog_purple-shield-32x32.png internet banking – PSafe Blog https://www.psafe.com/en/blog 32 32 <![CDATA[A Round-Up Of the 5 Best Online Banking Apps]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/round-5-best-online-banking-apps/ Fri, 28 Oct 2016 16:49:07 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=5266 When ATMs were first introduced, they presented customers with the idea that many banking functions should be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without the need to step into a branch and deal with a teller. With the rise of smartphones, that idea has been extended so that many banking functions are now available without the need to ever leave the couch.

Just because customers want banking to be easy and convenient, however, doesn’t mean that they don’t also want their money to be completely safe and secure. And not only do customers want their funds to be safe from thieves, but they also want all of their financial and personal data to be well-guarded, too.

Read More: Ensure That Your Data is Being Securely Stored

Which banks have successfully launched apps that have that much-desired mix of safety and convenience? Here is a list of the top five online banking apps that walk that fine line:

  1. American Express didn’t start out as a bank, but its banking app allows you to link easily with other banks to make fee-free saving easy.
  2. Capital One consistently wins praise for its “Sureswipe” feature and for the overall reliability of its app, since no one wants to try to deposit a check and get the dreaded “service not available” message.
  3. Chase has been investing heavily in its online banking app in recent years. The result is a feature-rich experience that has functions (like a touch-ID log on) to allay your safety concerns and smart design (like showing images related to your location) for a sense of fun.
  4. PedFed, like many large credit unions, is making a real effort to move its customers to online banking to keep costs low. With its pleasant interface, that effort is likely to succeed.
  5. Simple is a totally online banking platform, so it makes sense that it knows what customers want from an online banking app. Its offering is attractive and intuitive.

One thing you absolutely must consider, no matter which banking app you choose, is how safe and secure your own phone is. Mobile phones are vulnerable to hacking just like other computer devices are. The best way to protect your financial information is to install products, like those available from PSafe, that have been specifically designed to keep your phone and other devices safe and secure from hackers and thieves.

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<![CDATA[An Overview of Branchless Banks (Strictly Online Banking)]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/overview-branchless-banks-strictly-online-banking/ Fri, 23 Sep 2016 18:57:07 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=4075 Although you may not have heard of them, branchless banks are a relatively popular substitute for banking with a traditional branch. These services are usually provided online, allowing the user to use their banking functions from the comfort of their home. The internet, ATM machines, and mobile phones are three popular mediums used to access branchless banks. Branchless banking has gained popularity quickly in Europe and Asia, but is still gaining ground in the United States. There are several branchless banks in Kenya, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom.

Branchless banking is spreading because it offers several benefits to the customer. First, they save the user a good sum of money, because these banks don’t have distribution channels to maintain. As a result, branchless banks do not have an incentive to charge their clients any excess fees, as the fixed costs of their business is very low. In fact, it is estimated that branchless banking is 50% cheaper than banking with a standard branch. Consequently, the use of branchless banking is frequent among those who have low incomes.

Read More: Customize Your Android’s Quick Settings in a Few Clicks

There are several benefits associated with branchless banking, other than financial savings. For instance, with branchless banking, the bank isn’t closed on Sundays. Services usually operate 24 hours per day, depending upon the agent providing the branchless bank. You also forgo the long lines at the bank whenever you take advantage of this new technology. The ATMs offered by branchless banks are also more convenient than the ones provided by standard banks. For instance, most branchless ATMs allow you to withdraw cash in smaller increments. While most regular ATMs only allow you to withdraw a minimum of $20, several branchless banks allow you to withdraw amounts as low as $1.

There is also little to no paperwork involved with branchless banks. Thus, this system of banking is very convenient for those with low income or low literacy. Many people are too busy working to have time to deal with the stresses of dealing with a standard bank. The simplicity of branchless banks makes it easier for anyone with limited time to manage their finances.

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<![CDATA[A Brief Guide to Using Mobile Banking Apps]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/brief-guide-using-mobile-banking-apps/ Thu, 28 Jul 2016 14:11:45 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=2431 Mobile banking is perhaps one of the most useful features of the smartphone. You can check your balances remotely before making big purchases and monitor your accounts on the go. Even though mobile banking is becoming more and more popular, some features can be a little daunting. Here are the four most useful features that you can easily master on most banking apps:

1. View Your Transactions

Once you’ve downloaded the app to your phone and set up your account information, you can view your recent transactions. First, sign into your account. Your account balance should appear on the main screen. Next, click on the account you want to view. You can see money you’ve spent — usually represented with a dash or in red font — and the money that’s been deposited into your account — often represented in blue. You can also see which transactions are pending and which ones have been cleared.

2. Pay Bills

Another helpful feature, Bill Pay, lets you add payees, schedule automatic payments, and transfer funds directly into others’ bank accounts. First, you’ll need to add payees to your list. Under Bill Pay, you’ll see a screen that says something like “Manage Payees.” To add a new one, you’ll likely need your intended recipient’s account number. Once that’s set up, you can schedule either one-time or recurring payments directly from your phone.

3. Deposit Checks

If you’re still receiving paper checks, you don’t have to go to the bank anymore. Instead, online apps use your phone’s camera to deposit a check directly to your account. First, click on the “Deposit Check” button in your app. Next, sign the back of your check as usual. The app will require you to take a picture of the front and back of your check. Be sure to position the check in bright light on a dark surface so the shot is clear enough to read the account information on the check. After you fill in the check’s amount, the app will deposit the money into your account immediately or within a few hours.

4. Set Alert Notifications

Your online banking app will send you text message notifications for any parameters you specify. For example, you could set your app to notify you when you’ve made too many withdrawals in one day or when an account dips below a certain dollar amount.

While it’s great to master mobile banking for your own piece-of-mind, you still are transferring sensitive financial data through your smartphone. Double your protection by downloading PSafe Total. The free software keeps your phone secure with proven antivirus and antitheft features.

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