Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with onlinebanking

Life with online banking: possible?

chesty_a_arthur — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:52:17 -0800

Our money management software (Quicken) is constantly getting us locked out of our online banking accounts (Keybank). Keybank is no help. Has anyone successfully conquered this? So Quicken Online wants to get our information from Key.com. Fine with us; this is why we went through the elaborate security yadda yadda ya. Not so fine with Key -- they keep locking us out, and locking Quicken out. Having to log into Key to log into Key via Quicken kind of defeats the whole purpose. Key's money management interface seems lame, although using that is our BATNA right now.

Has anyone conquered this problem, especially with Key? They even have a dedicated Quicken team, which may or may not actually exist.

(Their corporate position seems to be that yes, there's a problem, and their temporary solution is to not do anything about it.)

Also, we've already abandoned Mvelopes and Mint at different times for having the same problem, although interestingly they had the same problem with different banks/credit cards.

Finally, this is the free Quicken Online. It seems like it accesses Key whether we log in or not, which is what triggers the lockout (X number of automated logins without a ... non-automated login.) I can't figure out how to change this, and I don't know if it would help.

Online banking screenshots

simplesharps — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:26:32 -0800

What is a good domain name for a site showcasing online banking screenshots? While searching for a new bank I couldn't find one single repository of online banking screenshots, so I'm making one.

I need a great domain name - help me decide! If I can get the .com and .com.au equivalents that'd be great. Site will focus on each banks online banking features and user interface. You'll be able to rate each one, leave comments and upload your own screenshots [personal info removed of course]. That's it.

Thanks!

US bank account outside the US

saysthis — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:52:12 -0800

Assuming I'm a US citizen with no bank account, what's the best way to obtain a debit card, bank account, or credit card within the US? I'll need it for online ID verification, online ordering, paypal, and the other standard slough of uses a debit card is good for. I haven't been home to the US in years, and I haven't used my debit card in ages. The bank, probably rightfully, has placed my account on hold until I can show up in person at a branch to withdraw cash. I still haven't fully investigated my options there, but from the phone calls I've made, it seems like they mean it, and it looks like it'll just have to stay that way until I find my way back to the States again, which likely won't be for awhile.

In the meantime, I'd like to start picking up freelancing work outside China, where I am. China has silly currency and reporting restrictions that I'd really rather not deal with. The easiest way to facilitate this, then, is with a USD paypal account, online bank account, or some other payment system that I'm not familiar with. I'd also like to order things online, obviously, which China's local Unionpay doesn't do very well outside the mainland. If I'm not in the US to apply directly, though, I'll need some form of online application.

Ideally, I'd like a Visa or Mastercard debit card tied to a bank account that I can apply for and manage from here. I can use my parents' address in the States and have them forward my mail if need be. What are my options?

Advantages to brick-and-mortar vs. online banking?

xiaoyi — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:04:08 -0800

I found an online-only bank that's better than my current one. Is being able to walk into a brick-and-mortar bank enough reason to keep my current accounts open? In 2007 I opened a checking and savings account at (what was formerly known as) Washington Mutual, attracted by high interest rates and free checking benefits. But after WaMu tanked and was bought out and interest rates went down the toilet along with the rest of the economy, I started looking elsewhere. I've since discovered the interest bearing checking and savings accounts offered by Schwab One, which has twice the interest rate of WaMu/JP Morgan/Chase (which isn't saying much but it's better than nothing), as well as several other benefits.

I already do most of my banking online anyway, and right now the only reason I need to physically walk into a bank is to deposit paper checks. Schwab gives you free prepaid envelopes and deposit slips to take care of that. So is there any reason to keep my WaMu accounts open?

How does my online banking fob work?

subpixel — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:48:50 -0800

How does my online banking fob work? Does it get numbers over-the-air or does it generate the according to some math I don't understand? Background: to access my bank account on the web, I need to use the little electronic fob CitiBank sent me when I registered for online banking. The device generates a six-digit number every minute or so. But where does that number come from? Is the fob generating or receiving it?

Direct Loan Servicer inaccessible

BinGregory — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:09:53 -0800

Why am I unable to access one particular website? Since moving out of the country, I cannot access the Federal Direct Loan Servicer site to maintain my student loans. I take care of all my financial business online - stateside banks, credit cards, etc. This is the only website in the world that never loads. I've used Firefox and IE, I've tried from home, work and my wife's office, I've tried at all hours of day and night. I've tried with the www and without. And I've tried off and on for five years now.

The internet often runs slow here in Sarawak, Malaysia, but I have no persistent problems with any other website, including ed.gov sites. I've called and spoken to Direct Loans - they say they've never had complaints of this kind and that the problem must be on my end. To my knowledge, the Malaysian government does not censor the internet.

At this point, I don't hold out much hope for a solution, but I'd sure like to know what is going on. Any ideas?

Best bank in Australia? Online features are key.

bystander — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 04:01:26 -0800

Best bank in Australia? Online features are key. I use ANZ and am considering ditching them. They have good online banking features, well, as far as I know. Is there a bank with something better? I also have an account with a credit union, CUA. Their web stuff is comparatively clumsy.
Other features would be a reasonable branch network in NSW to deposit the odd cheque, or when I have to pick up a new card.
I currently have mortgage, credit card and a fancy "package" of services with ANZ costing $300 a year so I am willing to pay fees for the best service.

Frustration with online banking

zek — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:59:28 -0800

I'm getting fed up with the way recent (<48 hour) transactions are handled with my online banking (US based). The problem is that nearly all of my card-based transactions always get broken up into three transactions like this:

10/23/2007 PA-SONIC DRIVE IN #4 (5.32) 10/24/2007 PA-SONIC DRIVE IN #4 (-5.32) 10/25/2007 DC-SONIC DRIVE IN #4 (5.32)

I'm guessing this is a pre-authorization, a refunded pre-authorization, and a final charge. That's all and well, but these transactions tend to make a mess out of the last 48 hours of my ledger. Also none of these transactions are downloadable into Quicken.

The main thing I'm wondering is whether this scheme is common to all online banking, or are there some banks that handle this more gracefully (or clear out the pre-auth mess quicker)?

Looking for a bank that gives good interface. Willing to test-drive.

diastematic — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:03:53 -0800

In my quest to find the ideal combination of good interest rates + good online banking interface, my wife and I will likely be opening multiple banking accounts -- that's how we'll kick the tires. Will opening, say, four new accounts at one time damage our credit at all? Actually, two questions:

1. Will this hurt our credit at all?
2. Suggestions on banks that offer BOTH high-interest checking + decent interface?

Changing Banks . . .

Medieval Maven — Mon, 21 May 2007 06:48:38 -0800

So, I need a new bank. And I'm picky and I don't need or want a brick-and-mortar. NetBank has been bought by EverBank, and I'm not sure I want to bank with EverBank. (I have tried looking around their site, but the pages about checking are throwing a 500 error.)

Right now with NetBank, we have the following:

Joint checking
My husband's personal checking
Money Market
Checking for our business
My IRA (Rollovers from 401(k))

I realize I may have to spread this stuff out a little more. I am looking for

1) Good online access.
2) Actual real-time reflection of transactions.
3) Free online bill pay
4) Decent returns, but this is negotiable.
5) No fees.
6) Negotiable, but I would prefer an online application process as I don't really have time to deal with this at present.

We've tried Washington Mutual, and I will never, ever so much as darken a sidewalk near one of their financial centers again in my life, so help me God. (Their check card system was ridiculous - there is no reason for a PIN transaction to show up two weeks late.) I know about Credit Unions, and we will research which ones we might have access to, but I've looked into it before and I think we are going to come up rather dry. I have heard good things about USAA, and I noticed today that ING has an "Electric Orange" account that might work out, but seems to not offer online bill payment (also, I hate Quicken with a firey passion). Keeping in mind that we are paying off some debt right now, so I can guarantee a miniumum of $1,000.00 in savings but pretty much everything over that goes to debt for the next little while (getting closer . . ). So, with all this in mind - can anyone give me information on how USAA measures up to what I need? Does anyone have any feedbank on Electric Orange? Has anyone used CheckFree's standalone service with that account? If so, did that work out? What other online banking solutions would you say we should look at? And, of course, if you bank with EverBank, what about them?

Online banking

megatherium — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:38:33 -0800

I've had it with NetBank. What online banking system would you recommend? I've been putting up with this company's limitations for a few years. But now they have added a new security system, under which the user has to choose one of about 15 dumbass questions (Who is your favorite musician? Who is your favorite actor?) and enter the answer. They demanded five questions and five answers, with no opt-out allowed. Then they will periodically serve up one of these questions and expect me to remember the answer, precisely as I entered it. (I'm sure that they wouldn't accept "clapton" if I had entered "eric clapton" when I started.)

This is, in a word, stupid, and I don't have the patience for this shit. So I want to find a more reasonably accessible provider. Which alternative would you recommend?

Well if you don't want my money, I'm happy to keep it!

scaryblackdeath — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 00:48:04 -0800

How long can a business wait to withdraw the money I charged on my debit card? About two months ago, I charged an airplane ticket (through a website) for my girlfriend to my debit card. We got the reservation & everything with no problem; the trip has long since come and gone. However, the $350 for the ticket is still sitting in my bank account.

I asked my bank how long the seller can wait to withdraw that money, but the people at the bank just gave me shrugs. Is there any sort of standard for this? I've been expecting that money to go away for a long time now... how long do I have to wait before it's forfeited?

Online Banking

willpie — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 17:33:33 -0800

I need a new bank account (in the US), and I'm thinking of just going with an online bank with no bricks-and-mortar locations. Looking around the web, it seems a lot of them require high minimum balances for checking accounts. Do you have an online bank account? Do you love it? Do you hate it? What are the perks and drawbacks? Does anyone know of an online credit union?

Online Banking

willnot — Mon, 05 Jan 2004 22:26:51 -0800

Which bank has the best on-line banking interface? Bank of America's systems and poor customer service seem to have been designed to help a merchant steal $650 from me, so I'm looking to switch to a different card (and probably bank) provider. On-line banking is a very important feature for me. Since I'm in LA, it wouldn't hurt if they had a lot of conveniently located ATM machines too (the reason went with BOA 8 years ago when I moved out here), and a bank that takes card holder security seriously would be good since that's the reason I'm looking to switch in the first place.