Internet banking

The English term Internet banking brings together a new way of conceiving the Bank, that is no longer like a real building, made of corridors and long queues at the counters, the personal relationship with the branch manager, but a virtual world where you can manage your account current comfortably seated at your desk or while you are at the office.



WHAT IS INTERNET BANKING
L ' Internet banking is the "virtual bank", our bank that turns into an IT tool capable of erogarci a set of services, banking transactions and operations often cost-zero or a decent savings over traditional channels.

The service gives the possibility to the customer " enabled " and equipped with special passwords, to virtually connect to his online account and prepare the necessary operations. Exceeded the first times when we looked with skepticism towards the use of delicate operations related to our money via the web, today most of the Italian Banks is able to offer a range of specialized services able to meet the needs of any customer.

Thanks to recent technologies, such as fast broadband connection, contracts for increasingly convenient and competitive connections and the possibility of being able to connect from smartphones and tablets, the choice to rely on the Internet banking service is spreading to 'eye.



Internet banking

ADVANTAGES OF INTERNET BANKING
The internet banking service offers numerous advantages, some truly unimaginable until a few years ago. The customer, used to surfing the web, can use the service for one of the following reasons:

it is comfortable

The first aspect that is noted is the convenience of connecting to your current account online at any time of day, without waiting for the opening hours of the branch. The service is in fact reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access to internet banking allows the customer to avoid long queues at the counters;

it is accessible everywhere

The customer enabled by his password can connect remotely from any computer and from anywhere in the world;

it's convenient

The costs of operating an online bank account are significantly lower than those of a traditional bank. Online banks, having eliminated bank branches and many expenses related to employees, also have the opportunity to offer customers services at cheaper and more competitive costs. Often the Internet banking service is offered free of charge and does not entail any management costs for the user;

offers higher rates

Banks that work exclusively remotely and which have cut down most of the costs related to employees, rents and management of the premises, are able to offer the client higher interest rates;

offers investment opportunities

Thanks to Internet banking, which offers speed and precision in financial transactions, investors and small savers have the opportunity to earn money through online trading , or the investment on the stock exchange through the web.

offers an assisted service

The internet banking service, although it does not involve any direct relationship with the Bank's personnel, is closely followed. In case of need, in fact, the customer can receive assistance quickly and professionally by connecting to a special toll-free number , or by e-mail or in chat with the Bank's operational service.

DISADVANTAGES OF INTERNET BANKING
The disadvantages of using internet banking are more related to the loss of interpersonal relationships and the doubts and perplexities inherent to our privacy that still persist, such as:



loss of that special relationship that, up until a few years ago, was established between the customer and the branch manager, made up of mutual esteem and trust. This situation can be avoided by choosing a hybrid institute , ie a bank that works with Internet banking but also has branches in the main centers;
Doubts and perplexities on the safety of online transactions. On this point we can say that lately the degree of security on online banking has reached a high degree of security, thanks to the intervention of ' ABI and the introduction of the best control systems;
POSSIBLE OPERATIONS WITH INTERNET BANKING
Thanks to the internet banking service it is possible to carry out any operation that is generally ordered at the branch office, including:

check the current account balance at any time;
transferring money from an account to another of the customer;
prepare national and international bank transfers to any destination;
pay bills online;
mobile phone charging operations;
invest in the stock exchange and keep the performance of its investments under control;
monitor the financial market;
TYPES OF INTERNET BANKING
We can distinguish three different types of service:

Informational : it is the most basic;
Communicative : allows interaction between the Bank and the customer, who can access certain online banking services;
Transactional : allows the execution of online debit / credit transactions;
HOW TO DEFEND YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY
One of the greatest dangers and fears of those who carry out banking transactions via the web is the loss of their identity . One of the most common scams that endanger e-banking is represented by phishing , the English term that expresses the attempt by an attacker to obtain sensitive data in order to violate the online account of others.

Is it possible to defend against the threat of phishing? Of course yes, just put into practice small but effective rules of behavior, such as:

never download programs of dubious origin, because they can hide malicious malware;
not to communicate to anyone their sensitive data , including passwords and data access to Internet banking. This also applies to requests that can be sent by e-mail . Generally, the phishing technique consists in sending an email containing a link to click. The customer, confused by the perfect graphics that reproduces the logo of his Bank, opens the email and provides sensitive data, giving the possibility to the scammers to access the current account online;
Always keep track of your balance and the latest banking transactions carried out via internet banking;
Install and keep up-to-date antivirus , firewell and antispyware programs;
HOW TO REQUEST THE SERVICE
The service is requested directly from your bank. Today there are many Banks that operate exclusively online or combine the activities of the counter to manage the accounts through Internet banking.

HOW TO ACCESS THE SERVICE
All customers of a bank that provides the internet banking service can access it, provided they have some basic requirements:

possession of a PC with relative Internet connection;
possession of a password and authorization from the Bank;
minimum knowledge of the web and surfing the net;