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See if your bank offers bill pay!
Financial Control
Online Tools to Help You Manage Your Finances
If you’re trying to find ways to better manage your finances, why not try utilizing some of the online services offered by most banks and credit unions? Oftentimes these services are free.
Here are just a few of the online financial management tools and how they can help you manage your finances:
- Online Banking - With 24x7 access to your account, you’ll have the most up-to-date information when you go online. And, you can keep an eye out for any suspicious activities or transactions and be able to respond in a timely manner.
- Online Bill Pay - Not to be confused with automatic payments or auto-debits, with online bill pay you’re in complete control of who you pay and how much. You can pay anyone, including large merchants like your credit card company and mortgage, and smaller ones like your lawn service or babysitter. Paying bills online can also save you time and money. See if your bank offers online bill pay.
- eBills - If you’re already paying some bills online, go one step further and try receiving some bills there. Make online bill pay at your bank or credit union’s website your one-stop shop for managing bills and you’ll have only one website to go to and one password to remember. See if your bank offers eBills. To see which billers offer electronic versions of their bill, check out the eBill Provider Search.
Many eBills are also available directly at billers’ websites, if you prefer to view and pay your bills there. Visit your billers’ website to learn about your electronic billing and payment options. - Alerts & Reminders - Set up alerts to notify you about account activities, including when your balance is low, when you’ve received a deposit or when your bills have been paid. Bill reminders will help you pay your bills on time so you can avoid late charges.
- Automatic Payments - You can set up automatic payments ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about scheduling your online payments each month. This option works particularly well for monthly recurring bills of the same amount, like mortgages, car payments and home owners’ association dues. If you’re receiving your bills electronically via eBills, you can set them to automatically pay when they are received or on the bill’s due date.
- Online Transfers - Transferring money between bank accounts is easiest online, especially between financial institutions. If you’re transferring money within the same bank or credit union, this transaction is likely free. Some may charge a minimal fee if transferring money to external accounts. However, this fee might be worth it if you’re in a financial pinch.
- Mobile Banking & Bill Pay - With smarter phones, better user interfaces and consumer demand for information anytime/anywhere, mobile banking is gaining in popularity and use. Many of the larger banks and credit unions offer mobile banking capabilities for those times a computer might be out of reach. Check to see if your financial institution offers mobile banking and if your phone is compatible.
If you’re worried about security, consider the fact that most identity theft and fraud happens offline rather then online. Check out online tools you can use to protect yourself and keep your financial information private.
