Help for Cable customers

 

Why use internet banking?

Internet banking is one of the success stories of online life. There are risks but as long as you are careful and aware of these, internet banking can make a difference to your life:

No more going to the branch to manage your account. Think of all the time you save driving, travelling, queuing.

Banking 24 hours a day. You can view your statement, transfer money between accounts, set up standing orders, pay your bills, apply for an overdraft or even mortgage all in a few minutes from your home.

Most banks have an internet site. It will be hard to find a bank which doesn't allow you to manage your account on the internet.

Some banks are internet only. Many are managed by traditional banking companies:

• Cahoot is owned by Abbey National plc.
• Egg is owned by Prudential.
• First Direct is owned by HSBC Bank plc.
• Intelligent Finance is owned by Halifax plc.
• Smile is owned by The Co-operative Bank.

What can I do to keep safe?

Be careful about fake banking sites - also known as phishing. Phishing is when someone makes a fake site and tries to pass it off as a genuine company in order to steal your personal details and defraud you. Make sure you know what your bank website looks like so that you can tell if you are being conned.

Fake sites aren't common but you need to know the risks. You can normally spot fake sites if you look closely (spelling mistakes, slightly different link address or tone of voice). If you have any suspicions don't enter your username and password and check the address or ring your bank.

Check for signs of secure transaction. When conducting transactions of any kind, such as transferring money to other accounts or paying bills, always double check for the signs of a secure transaction - the yellow padlock and a URL beginning https://

Take general internet safety advice such as our top tips. If a hacker or a virus gets into your computer they can steal your usernames and passwords and access your bank details that way.

Don't do your internet banking on a public computer. Don't access your bank from Internet cafes that you aren't sure about. If you are sharing a computer or using a computer at work or somewhere public, always log out of your bank account when you have finished accessing it.

Keep your usernames and passwords hidden. Some people stick them up next to their computer screens, don't share them with anyone.

Don't respond to emails which request your username and password. Banks will never do this. Chances are it's a fraudster.

If you think you're a victim of fraud contact your bank immediately. Most banks have a special hotline for this purpose.

Be careful about using your email address in message boards, newsgroups, newsletters or even having an email address that can be guessed.

How do I get started?

Most banks will have information in the branch about internet banking. Generally you will be required to:

• Register with a username and password.
• Enter special security information such as pin number or security question.
• Register an email address.
• This can take a few days or weeks as normally your bank will need to send you a username or pin to your home after you have registered. The security processes are, quite rightly, very thorough.

This is worth the effort because it gives you peace of mind. Once you're up and running you will see how easy it is.