Banking online is easy, but remember to stay safe!

Services and firewalls

Sweep service:
Some accounts offer to automatically sweep excess savings from your current account into a savings account. The Abbey Account is one such example, and transfers a predetermined amount of money between accounts on a set day each month. Because you decide on how much money is swept each month, you can ensure that you never get overdrawn. You can sweep all your spare cash or leave a certain amount behind. The sweep service is flexible and helps you resist the urge to spend your salary all at once. Account Aggregator services: This isn’t in place for all current accounts, but some banks and building societies offer it to their customers. The account aggregator service can show details from your multiple accounts on one screen. This allows you to view all your incoming and outgoing costs on a single web page. It is useful for comparing finances and transferring money.
Nowadays banking online is so easy that many people prefer it to going to their local branch. It is quicker than queuing up to speak to a bank advisor, and often cheaper too.
However, internet banking poses risks for its customers as well. Internet fraudsters are only too happy to get hold of your details so as to misuse your money. And viruses and worms can wreak havoc exposing private details, deleting files and causing complete computer breakdowns. 
So, how can you protect yourself from viruses and online charlatans? You can start by installing one of the many internet security systems which are available on the market, such as the Norton Internet Security Package or McAffee Internet Security. These are relatively price worthy and guaranteed to keep your computer virus free. There are also other security systems which can be downloaded from the internet; such as firewalls. These block suspicious Internet traffic and use special precautions to prevent personal information being disclosed without your knowledge. The best security systems block not only viruses, but other so-called Trojan and espionage software which hackers use to obtain credit card numbers and other personal information.