Getting Started with Online Banking
Nothing beats the convenience of doing all your banking at midnight, in your pajamas.
Nothing beats the convenience of doing all of your banking at midnight, in your pajamas, and for a generation that has grown up Facebooking, Skyping, and living a Second Life, it’s second nature. But for those who remember when a bank visit was part of a weekly routine, where you knew the tellers’ names, the prospect of managing money through your home computer can be daunting.
It shouldn’t be. With each generation of software, online banking gets easier, and with Web 2.0 innovations, security continues to get better. There has never been a better time for computer novices, or experts for that matter, to start managing their day-to-day finances through their credit union’s virtual branch.
You can check your accounts, get an up-to-the-minute bank statement, transfer cash between accounts and pay bills or maybe have the system do it for you—automatically.
Getting Started
The rules for defensive computing apply when establishing online access to your accounts. For Microsoft users, that means adding a personal firewall program in addition to the security measures your credit union offers.
Your credit union can help you set up online access to your account in person at one of our three community branches.
Choose a password that is easy to remember, and also unique, because it’s best to avoid the convenient feature that allows your computer to remember log-in details. The rules for securing other electronic data apply. Don’t choose obvious passwords, such as family birthdays, home addresses or simple keying, like 1111.
If you are the sole user of your computer, it may be tempting to use the memory feature, but remember that laptops are especially prone to theft. Better to take the time to type in your password and account number than give a thief easy access. And always remember to log-out.
If you access your account from a shared computer or in public sites, such as libraries or Internet cafes, it’s wise to clear the browser history and close the web-surfing program after every use.
To prevent “phishing”—the techniques used by online con artists to trick computer users into revealing passwords, credit card numbers and bank accounts—treat electronic requests for information as you would any real-world ones. Don’t reveal personal information until you are certain of who is asking. If in doubt, a simple call to your credit union or the business that is supposedly asking for personal data will confirm whether the request is legitimate. But the rule of thumb is if an information request arrives by email or instant message, that’s a fraudster phishing for your cash.
There are lots of tips and information about online use and fraud circulating. For the best advice, stop by a community branch of Nelson & District Credit Union, ask questions and get started.
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