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owlyn
MVM
join:2004-06-05
Newtown, PA
Netgear CM2050V
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1 recommendation

owlyn to planet

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Re: online banking, etc.

1. I've been using my computer for online banking since the early 1990s with zero problems.

2. I've seen employees desks in street level windows with screens facing the window. I reported it to the bank security department, and shades went up on the windows shortly thereafter. Anything is possible. Many ATMs today still run on DOS.

3. Do NOT get a debit card. The bank should be able to provide you with an ATM-only card.
BoulderHill1
join:2004-07-15
Montgomery, IL

BoulderHill1

Member

said by owlyn:

The bank should be able to provide you with an ATM-only card.

I'm curious about this you said.

Perhaps it is just my experience or my methods, but, of what use is an ATM only card?

I have a VISA debit card from Chase bank. I use it everywhere for every possible purchase. (done this for years)

What I don't do is use it at the ATM.

Well for cash that is. I can't even tell you the last time I took cash out at the ATM. Years ago probably.

The only activities I conduct at the ATM are deposits of checks or cash. Anytime I get cash in my hand, it immediately goes into the ATM. That way I can spend it via my debit card and have a record of the purchase.
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

Mele20

Premium Member

You can deposit CASH in an ATM? That has not been possible here in probably 10-12 years. You are begging for trouble doing that for many reasons.

To me, the only reason to use an ATM is to take cash out. I very rarely have checks to deposit and cash deposits are forbidden at ATM machines for both major banks in Hawaii as well as at my credit union which is a large one. I carry very little cash except at the first of the month when I pay all local bills in person in cash that I have removed from the ATM.
Moffetts
join:2005-05-09
San Mateo, CA

Moffetts

Member

Uh, yeah. You put the cash into an envelope and you insert it into the machine. You type into the machine that you're making a "deposit" and that your envelope contains "cash." It's quite magical, I must say.

Even more amazing are the ATMs that don't require envelopes. They just inhale your cash/checks like a vending machine.

Snowy
Lock him up!!!
Premium Member
join:2003-04-05
Kailua, HI

Snowy

Premium Member

said by Moffetts:

It's quite magical, I must say.

I need to get one of those.
Now my cash just goes *POOF*, I have no idea where it goes.
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

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So, you just ignore the warning on the bank's envelope that says NO CASH ACCEPTED ? OKaaaaaaay.........

owlyn
MVM
join:2004-06-05
Newtown, PA
Netgear CM2050V
Netgear RBRE960
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said by BoulderHill1:

said by owlyn:

The bank should be able to provide you with an ATM-only card.

I'm curious about this you said.

Perhaps it is just my experience or my methods, but, of what use is an ATM only card?

I have a VISA debit card from Chase bank. I use it everywhere for every possible purchase. (done this for years)

What I don't do is use it at the ATM.

Well for cash that is. I can't even tell you the last time I took cash out at the ATM. Years ago probably.

The only activities I conduct at the ATM are deposits of checks or cash. Anytime I get cash in my hand, it immediately goes into the ATM. That way I can spend it via my debit card and have a record of the purchase.

I use the ATM to take cash out, and to deposit the extremely few paper checks I may receive (rebates, etc.). I do as much as possible online. BTW, I don't go to the bank's site, I use Quicken to pay bills, etc. Even at that, I have most payments set up to be paid automatically. Been doing this for years. Haven't had to deal with a teller in I don't know how long.

GuruGuy
Premium Member
join:2002-12-16
Atlanta, GA

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said by Mele20:

So, you just ignore the warning on the bank's envelope that says NO CASH ACCEPTED ? OKaaaaaaay.........

ATM's accept cash! Here in atlanta, you don't even need envelopes anymore for checks or cash deposits. The machine scans it when you insert it and reads what it is......exactly the same as it does when it disperses cash. Totally safe and it asks you to confirm whatever you're doing and the amounts.
GuruGuy

GuruGuy

Premium Member

said by GuruGuy:

said by Mele20:

So, you just ignore the warning on the bank's envelope that says NO CASH ACCEPTED ? OKaaaaaaay.........

ATM's accept cash! Here in atlanta, you don't even need envelopes anymore for checks or cash deposits. The machine scans it when you insert it and reads what it is......exactly the same as it does when it disperses cash. Totally safe and it asks you to confirm whatever you're doing and the amounts.

And I think you're confusing no COINS accepted with no cash accepted
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

Mele20

Premium Member

No, it's no cash here. It was no coins forever seems like and then no cash. The banks here still require envelopes and filling out all the information on the envelope and the part you tear off as your "receipt"/reminder of what you did.

Where do you insert cash/checks? The same place where you insert the envelope? I just recently picked up a bunch of envelopes from one bank and it says in big letters DO NOT INSERT CASH. The bank where I have my checking account, I don't currently have any deposit envelopes so I can't check them and I suppose it is possible that since I have used deposit envelopes there that it has changed. I actually go inside a bank if I am making a deposit to a savings account and I always have my deposit book with me on the day I plan to access my savings account. Yes, banks still issue "old fashioned" savings account deposit books and folks are expected to use them as the safest thing.

However, t he bank where I don't have any current deposit envelopes, I use their ATMs frequently so if there is some way to deposit cash with/or without (this bank got really angry when I ignored the don't insert cash in envelope one time a number of years ago as they said it was for my protection that only checks were allowed to be deposited via ATM) an envelope I think I would have noticed a change in the ATMs themselves or a choice on screen asking if wanted to deposit cash. I hope that is never allowed here. That is DANGEROUS! It will just attract criminals at all hours for those of us who want to get cash or deposit a check or pay a credit card bill by check deposit. I'll be terrified to ever use an ATM if that is allowed here. As it is, I am only comfortable using my banks ATMs when the banks are open and the ATMs are at the banks. I feel most comfortable using my checking account bank's ATMs inside the branches of the bank at Safeway and KTA Super Stores (grocery). I rarely use that bank's ATMs in CVS as they are old machines and I don't trust them. I also rarely use my other bank's ATM inside Sears for the same reason. I only trust the ATMs physically attached to my banks and only when the banks are open.

The bank where I have my checking account was voted by Forbes as the BEST bank in the nation three years in a row recently so they must be doing something right.
nonymous (banned)
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ

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I would limit cash into an atm but have done it many times for reasonable amounts. The new cash scanning ones are magical. Reasonable is ymmv.

DownTheShore
Pray for Ukraine
Premium Member
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ

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said by Mele20:

No, it's no cash here. It was no coins forever seems like and then no cash. The banks here still require envelopes and filling out all the information on the envelope and the part you tear off as your "receipt"/reminder of what you did.

Where do you insert cash/checks? The same place where you insert the envelope? I just recently picked up a bunch of envelopes from one bank and it says in big letters DO NOT INSERT CASH. The bank where I have my checking account, I don't currently have any deposit envelopes so I can't check them and I suppose it is possible that since I have used deposit envelopes there that it has changed. I actually go inside a bank if I am making a deposit to a savings account and I always have my deposit book with me on the day I plan to access my savings account. Yes, banks still issue "old fashioned" savings account deposit books and folks are expected to use them as the safest thing.

However, t he bank where I don't have any current deposit envelopes, I use their ATMs frequently so if there is some way to deposit cash with/or without (this bank got really angry when I ignored the don't insert cash in envelope one time a number of years ago as they said it was for my protection that only checks were allowed to be deposited via ATM) an envelope I think I would have noticed a change in the ATMs themselves or a choice on screen asking if wanted to deposit cash. I hope that is never allowed here. That is DANGEROUS! It will just attract criminals at all hours for those of us who want to get cash or deposit a check or pay a credit card bill by check deposit. I'll be terrified to ever use an ATM if that is allowed here...

It's not dangerous at all. Bank ATMs are well-lit and have security cameras trained on them. A lot of times you need your ATM card to even enter the area with the ATM machine. They usually also have small mirrors attached so you can see if there is anyone behind you. Also, a lot of banks have drive-up ATMs which are usually right on the side of the bank building, so it's very hard for someone to sneak up on you that way - there's no room between the car and the wall to fit.

Bank ATMs in NJ allow the deposit of both cash and checks. For the ones that use the envelope system, you just annotate your cash and/or check totals (you can list the check totals separately). With my bank, annotating your name and date on the envelope is actually optional because everything is keyed, I suppose, to the card you are using for the deposit. You have the choice of whether or not you want a receipt printed up at the time.

A bank that I use allows direct deposit of cash and checks without an envelope at their bank ATMs. You insert the checks and they are scanned and visually appear on the screen with a button for click if their tally of the total amount agrees with your tally. You can get a printout of the actual check on your receipt if you want, or just a regular receipt, or have the receipt emailed to you, or choose not to get any paper receipt. What this allows is faster access to your cash due to quicker processing, because you don't have to wait for the envelope to be opened by bank personnel and the data verified manually. The ATM can scan the routing, account, check number and amount right at entry; I've never had it once misread the written amount on the check. It can also scan the actually money and probably verify it via the security strip embedded in it.

I don't know if any banks around here still use physical passbooks. I know that the banks I've used over the years have all done away with them.
BoulderHill1
join:2004-07-15
Montgomery, IL

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said by Mele20:

Where do you insert cash/checks?

The ATMs here from Chase bank do not have an envelope slot. There are no envelopes to use anyway so why have a slot for them.

There are two different places on the ATM for deposits. One is for cash and the other is for checks.

The cash slot is similar to those found on vending machines except that you can insert up to fifty bills at one time.

The procedure is to navigate the touch screen ATM menu to the deposit options and then choose cash or check deposit. When you choose cash it opens the little door to the cash slot and you insert the bills. It then counts them and rejects any bills that may be old (prior to 1997) or have other issues with them that prevent the scanner from properly identifying them.

When all is good then it makes the deposit to your account and prints you a receipt.

I don't know what it is like in Hawaii, but I don't find this to be DANGEROUS here in Chicagoland. Seems that there must be local laws against this in your area, or the local banks rules.

Actually thinking about it, it is safer than removing cash from the ATM, since when you make a deposit of cash at an ATM when you leave you have no cash on you to be robbed of. When you withdraw you become a target.
BoulderHill1

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said by Mele20:

To me, the only reason to use an ATM is to take cash out.

This is what I don't understand...

Why take cash out from an ATM? What is the need?

For me, since I can spend my money via the debit card EVERYWHERE, I have no need for cash.

CylonRed
MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County

CylonRed

MVM

For those of us who do not want/have debit cards.

garys_2k
Premium Member
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI

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said by BoulderHill1:

Why take cash out from an ATM? What is the need?

Well, the coffee club where I work ($10/month) doesn't really process plastic...

owlyn
MVM
join:2004-06-05
Newtown, PA

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Cash transactions cannot be traced back to you without video recording. Every debit card transaction leaves a history. May not matter to you. I personally don't care. Just sayin...
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

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said by BoulderHill1:

said by Mele20:

To me, the only reason to use an ATM is to take cash out.

This is what I don't understand...

Why take cash out from an ATM? What is the need?

For me, since I can spend my money via the debit card EVERYWHERE, I have no need for cash.

I take cash out at the beginning of the month to pay local bills and local credit cards. Checks cost a FORTUNE now so I hoard what I have and write checks usually just for medical co-pays since those tend to get messed up and I want proof I paid the co-pay. I also write a check for my landline since the phone company charges $2 to pay via their phone system and there is no longer a phone mart where I can go in and pay in cash.

I don't use cash for purchases. I use a cash back or mileage credit card.

I don't have a debit card and I don't allow my savings accounts or local credit card accounts to be tied by ATM or online to my checking account or savings accounts.

The word is here, from several financial institutions, that the days of using a credit card or debit card for everything is about to come to an end. As soon as one major retailer starts charging customers to use a credit card all will do so and then I will have to go back to writing checks and withdrawing cash frequently from my bank account as I will not use a debit card.

As for checking my bank account daily....what a major hassle! Logging in now is a major hassle so I do it once a month usually and it is actually faster and much easier to use the bank's phone system instead from a safe, corded landline.

DownTheShore
Pray for Ukraine
Premium Member
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ

1 recommendation

DownTheShore

Premium Member

I pay most of my regular monthly bills online - it's secure and I don't have to buy checks or pay for postage. I pay via a debit card that's tied to a specific checking account. I only put money into that account to cover the bills I'm paying or what I expect to spend when I go shopping. I don't earn any interest on the account, but the money isn't in there long enough to make it matter.

I don't normally check my account daily, but even if I did, it's no more of a hassle than logging into this site or any other. If it's a hassle at your bank, then it must have a very backward IT dept to have such a poorly designed online access website.

Charging customers to use their credit/debit cards isn't going to fly; if the banks in your state think that it will work, I think they are going to be rudely surprised. A couple of banks have already tried that in past years and the customer complaints and bad publicity forced them to cancel those plans.
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

Mele20

Premium Member

The banks will not be charging customers to use credit cards. They are just predicting that soon the RETAILERS will pass on the charges(or a portion of them maybe based on the amount being charged to the card) they pay to MasterCard, Visa, Discover, etc to the consumer. Once the first retailer does it in a state where it has not been banned by the state and most states have no ban then every retailer will do it.

Don't you have to pay a monthly fee to the bank where you have the specific checking account you use to pay monthly bills? My checking account is free but only because it has direct deposit. Checks cost a great deal now (unless I am willing to move up to the next level of banking where there are perks like free checks but a horrible closing statement date) so I write very few and I only use one stamp a month to pay my landline bill.

I don't leave banking cookies or hardly any cookies on my computer so the bank doesn't recognize the computer and that means that to login they will call me with a code to put in and that is in addition to my password. They did away with recognizing your chosen picture and then answering a bunch of nosy questions when they did not recognize my computer which is never unless I forget to delete all the cookies after I visit. Chase has the same sort of system but theirs is very poorly designed if you have had them call you with the passcode. I usually have Chase send the passcode to my email but this last time I couldn't login in my email account because I have a new security app for Fx and it constantly changes my IP address and the email vendor was suspicious because of this and even whitelisting doesn't seem to work always. So, I had Chase call me and the passcode was read off very rapidly and no way to have it read a second time. I had to call Chase internet help to get logged in.

sivran
Vive Vivaldi
Premium Member
join:2003-09-15
Irving, TX

sivran

Premium Member

said by Mele20:

Don't you have to pay a monthly fee to the bank where you have the specific checking account you use to pay monthly bills?

Does Free Checking not exist in Hawaii? All of the large banks have free checking if you meet certain criteria (student, direct deposits, or minimum balance usually).

You should keep in mind, your little island is different from the mainland. Here we have free checking, and cash deposits at ATMs that have dedicated slots for cash. Amazing, I know. Did you know we also have snow? This frozen stuff that falls from the sky.. sucks to travel on, but can be pretty.
BoulderHill1
join:2004-07-15
Montgomery, IL

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said by Mele20:

I take cash out at the beginning of the month to pay local bills and local credit cards. Checks cost a FORTUNE now so I hoard what I have and write checks usually just for medical co-pays since those tend to get messed up and I want proof I paid the co-pay.

I pay all my local bills and such with my debit card. I also pay any medical copays with debit card, it provides proof I paid. CHECKS?! I haven't written one in over ten years. Why would I? I don't even have any blank checks if I wanted too.
said by Mele20:

As for checking my bank account daily....what a major hassle! Logging in now is a major hassle

I don't understand what makes this a hassle. For me it is a simple process, enter a username and password. Same as logging in to this site.

I find the things you have said to be interesting. I don't doubt your word, it is just that your statements come from a perspective that is diametrically opposed to what I know. Perhaps some of it is regional and some is personal preferences but either way it is very different.
said by Mele20:

The word is here, from several financial institutions, that the days of using a credit card or debit card for everything is about to come to an end. As soon as one major retailer starts charging customers to use a credit card all will do so and then I will have to go back to writing checks and withdrawing cash frequently from my bank account as I will not use a debit card.

I do agree with this. I think a time is coming when the consumer will be paying for card fees as retailers pass the costs on to them. I will adjust my methods if and when this happens as I will not pay a fee to spend my money.
BoulderHill1

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said by Mele20:

Don't you have to pay a monthly fee to the bank where you have the specific checking account you use to pay monthly bills?

I do not. I think if banks charged for online bill pay, people would not sign up to use it. Seems counter productive to the bank to do so. I pay all my bills with online service from the bank. Even the local garbage man.
said by Mele20:

I don't leave banking cookies or hardly any cookies on my computer so the bank doesn't recognize the computer and that means that to login they will call me with a code to put in and that is in addition to my password

Explains why it is such a hassle to log in for you. To each his own but it seems a little paranoid to me.
said by Mele20:

Checks cost a great deal now

Although I don't write any checks, they do not cost me anything if I did. they would be processed just the same as a debit card purchase would be.
said by Mele20:

Chase sent me a new credit card when the expiration date on mine was approaching. It was that god-awful RFID chip crap card -contactless, etc. I called them and said I wanted a real credit card not that dangerous chip shit. They said most folks still want magnetic stripe cards and they immediately sent me one. I have no interest in carrying a special kind of wallet to protect an RFID card. Nor do I wish liablity to be shifted to my shoulders. Only fools carry RFID cards in the USA

My Chase card has the RFID chip in it and I LOVE it. Many of my debit card purchases are done this way instead of swiping the mag strip. Keeps the mag strip from wearing out as quick. Since I make so many purchases with my card I would wear out two to three a year. Now with the RFID the card lasts a lot longer. I'm not really concerned about any security issues with my methods as the benefits far outweigh the remotely possible breaches that could happen. Carrying cash bothers and concerns me considerably more.

I also carry two RFID cards in my wallet. I've found that this makes it basically impossible for either card to be read. I discovered this on accident. I typically would just carry my debit card in my wallet. When making a RFID purchase I wouldn't even take the card out of my wallet. I would just wave by entire wallet at the reader/scanner.

However on one occasion I had also placed a credit card that had RFID in it in my wallet. When I was making a purchase I pulled my wallet out as per usual to wave at the reader and it wouldn't work. I waved and waved but it wouldn't accept my card. I finally pulled the DEBIT card out of the wallet and tried it and it worked perfectly fine. It then finally hit me that my CREDIT card also had RFID in it. In the following days I experimented with my purchases and what I realized is that when the two cards are next to each other, it confuses the card reader and then neither card is accepted.

So I now leave an expired RFID card in my wallet to serve as deterent to anyone that might get close enough to my butt with some rogue RFID scanner.

And just for reference, my account is with Chase bank. I have what they call "Chase Checking". It is just a regular checking account. It does have a monthly fee that is waived if you have direct deposit (I do not) maintain a certain balance (which I do not) or make a minimum of five debit card purchases per month. (I make several hundred of these each month).
scelli (banned)
Four More Years!
join:1999-08-07
FLOT/FEBA

scelli (banned)

Member

said by BoulderHill1:

And just for reference, my account is with Chase bank. I have what they call "Chase Checking". It is just a regular checking account. It does have a monthly fee that is waived if you have direct deposit (I do not) maintain a certain balance (which I do not) or make a minimum of five debit card purchases per month. (I make several hundred of these each month).

Just FYI: Chase also has a program for active duty/reserve personnel in the US armed forces as well as retired service-members and veterans. They waive a number of monthly fees as well as providing some other special bennies and it's worth investigating if you fall into any of these categories,
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

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My bank and the others here (although not the credit unions) charge to use bill pay. That is a horrible way to pay bills anyway as frequently the bank mailed check doesn't arrive in time. It is far better to do the prudent thing and pay all local bills in person and credit card bills by a corded landline and that is free and you have full control over when the bill is paid which you don't with bank bill pay systems (even though they may claim you do).

I meant the cost of checks when you purchase them. The fee is very high now for a small number of checks. A credit card costs nothing. A credit card has safeguards that NO debit card has. It is just crazy to use a debit card instead of a credit card. Pay it in full each month and get miles or cash rewards.

I have never had a mag stripe wear out and I use my cards all the time. There is FAR MORE to the reasons for not using debit cards than RFID chip in some. You should educate yourself. NEVER EVER USE ANY DEBIT CARD. Use credit cards and then pay them in full each month. That is what smart people do. You are being snookered and that is exactly what the banks in the USA hope happens to enough naive, ignorant about credit vs debit cards folks so they can then make credit cards very expensive to use and force everyone to debit only cards which is what they want as then they really have you. It will be just as bad as what goes on in other nations where we get ridiculed (instead of admired) because we have a much superior system for the protection of our citizens. People of other nations are not aware of the protections we have and will lose if enough people decide debit cards are gods. Write a check (even with the high cost of purchasing checks at many banks now) rather than use a debit card.

sivran
Vive Vivaldi
Premium Member
join:2003-09-15
Irving, TX

sivran

Premium Member

said by Mele20:

That is a horrible way to pay bills anyway as frequently the bank mailed check doesn't arrive in time

Possibly true in Hawaii. Not so much here.
BoulderHill1
join:2004-07-15
Montgomery, IL

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said by Mele20:

My bank and the others here (although not the credit unions) charge to use bill pay. That is a horrible way to pay bills

I agree that if the institution is charging for bill pay services it is horrible. However mine does not and until now I haven't heard of any that did. Another example of how diametrically opposite your perspective is.
said by Mele20:

pay all local bills in person and credit card bills by a corded landline and that is free

Not sure why you keep referencing a corded land line. You seem to think it is somehow more secure than other phones. Not really. Anyway, any pay by phone methods I have seen incur a service charge to do so. EX- Pay my ATT bill by phone? costs me 2 bucks to do so. Same if I went into an ATT store and pay in person, they charge you for the privelige to pay them. Another example of the opposite ness.
said by Mele20:

You should educate yourself. NEVER EVER USE ANY DEBIT CARD

I am quite educated on these matters. I thoroughly understand the risks and the arguments on each side of the issues. After considering these points I feel quite secure in my methods. I love my debit card!!! Nothing has kept me more disciplined in my spending habits, given me a readily available, all in one place, concise report of how and where I spend my money, and allows me to be secure in that I do not ever have to carry cash.

Again this is polar opposite to your perspective and what goes on in Hawaii. I'm beginning to think Hawaii is like bizarre-o land like in superman where everything is opposite to what you know to be true.
said by Mele20:

Write a check (even with the high cost of purchasing checks at many banks now) rather than use a debit card.

What good is writing a check. Hardly anyplace takes them. Except Hawaii.
BoulderHill1

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said by Mele20:

A credit card costs nothing. A credit card has safeguards that NO debit card has.

More from bizarre-o land.
My debit card has safeguards. Very similar to the ones that credit cards have in that I am not responsible for fraudulent spending done with the card. Granted I may be temporarily out of funds since the debit card comes straight from my account rather than going against the credit line of a credit card. However the safeguard is that the bank will replace any amounts lost due to fraud.

CylonRed
MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County

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Hmmmm. Tons of places take checks still. I will go out on a limb and say no place I do business will refuse a check unless they always refused checks (one local pizza place never took checks).
markf
join:2008-01-24
Scarborough, ON

markf

Member

said by CylonRed:

Tons of places take checks still. I will go out on a limb and say no place I do business will refuse a check.

Around here no retailer I know takes cheques. The only time I use cheques are to pay my HVAC guy and school field trips/pre-ordered lunches and such).