As an added convenience, many banks now offer customers a variety of electronic services, including:

Direct Deposit. This is an easy way to deposit money in your account on a regular basis, be it weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. To set up direct deposit your employer must offer this service. Over 95% of all financial institutions in the United States receive electronic payments and, in most cases, the money will be available for withdrawal on the payment date or on the following morning. Direct deposit will also allow you to schedule electronic bill payments. This feature allows you to automatically pay bills such as insurance, telephone, cable and loan payments.

Electronic Bill Paying. This Service allows customers to pay their bills online through a bank's website.
E-Banking Tips. Know the company you are doing business with. Keep records of all electronic payment transactions and authorizations you sign. If you find a discrepancy, notify your financial institution and the payee immediately.
Do not give out your Personal Identification Numbers (PIN). If you are able to select your own pin, do not keep the code in your wallet and avoid using such things as a birthday, address or social security number. If you want to discontinue direct payments, notify the payee in writing.

Applying for Loans. Some banks allow you to apply for car loans, mortgages and credit cards by filling out an online loan application. In many cases, these electronic applications may start to be processed within one day. You can check the status of your loan application and know if you qualify a lot faster than filling out a written application that has to be mailed.

The next time you are on the Internet, browse the websites of the banks you are interested in. Check to see if you can sign up for direct deposit or electronic bill paying and look into any fees that apply. You may save yourself some time as well as money.