off topic:would you recommend online banking

[Legend]

I've been wanting to open online savings account but are a little hesitant to because it's not a physical bank,do you guys have one and would you recommend it?

These are the online companies i have looked at already but need a little feedback,

HSBCdirect
EmigrantDirect
ingdirect
ETRADE

[suckseed]

Legend, why not use a real one? My bank lets me access my accounts online.

[ILuvGurls]

Legend, why not use a real one? My bank lets me access my accounts online.

i agree, what's wrong with a real one? most local banks have on line services, so don't see the need unless you were doing alot of traveling and even then you got the ATMs.

[Legend]

I heard online savings had better rates but i think i will stick to my local bank, i don't think im willing to take a risk.

[Aragon21]

I personally have been the victim of a "keylogger" trojan/worm. This was directly related to an online game I play from time to time, so although I had definately entered both my SSN and banking account/routing numbers while my computer was compromised, I feel a little security that my identity and banking account are safe.

This experience, however, makes me run a spy-ware program every time I plan on typing personal information into my computer. So I myself would not switch to an online bank even though the closest branch of my bank is 50+ miles away. (who would have thought a move across state would mean no local branch of a national bank...geez the bank is named after a state 2000+ miles away )

Just my choice, but as this forum has clearly demonstrated, not everyone makes the same choices

[peggygee]

I've been wanting to open online savings account but are a little hesitant to because it's not a physical bank,do you guys have one and would you recommend it?

These are the online companies i have looked at already but need a little feedback,

HSBCdirect
EmigrantDirect
ingdirect
ETRADE

Both HSBC and Etrade have a 'brick and mortar' presence if you
are wary that some guy is squirreling your money into a shoe box
under a mattress somewhere.

There are incentives for those companies.

1. They often will have higher interst rates.

2. They usually are FDIC insured, if you are not certain, check
here http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/online/safe.html

3. The convenience factor.

As has been stated, most physical banks have a online presence, so
if that will aid in your comfort level, you may want to avail yourself
of that.

[hwbs]

people in my faily have ING and swear by it...i think they are offering roughly 5%..the thing is u have a physical bank and online...it just takes a day or so to transfer funds.

[zookeeper]

INGdirect pays way more interest than your typical bank. Lower overhead by not having "locations" (although they have some internet cafes where you can drop off deposits that they'll fedex to the headquarters and give you a cup of coffee, to boot).

Also, I believe they've added a checking account to their product line (it may be just an electronic account, not sure).

[zookeeper]

FYI - the cafes are in New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware and Los Angeles.