[JoelJohnson]

Use a Chromebook, you can't get a virus.

[msilagy]

Go to Bankrate.com and search highest CD rates and Money Markey Savings rate. Check the Bank's rating and be sure they are insured for the amount you invest. Been doing this for many years and the returns are way higher than local banks.

[Mrmean58]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Anyone here sign up for online banking, Savings, CD's, or money market?
Are they safe?

Interest rates are great

Yes, and yes

[WingedFoot78]

I have been using online banking for fifteen years without any problems. We are RV'ers and have paperless billing. When the bills come in, I "schedule" them right away. It has worked out for us.

[Accidental1]

Have used Ally bank for years with no issues. Have no need to do a transactions in a brick and mortar branch.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by msilagy

Go to Bankrate.com and search highest CD rates and Money Markey Savings rate. Check the Bank's rating and be sure they are insured for the amount you invest. Been doing this for many years and the returns are way higher than local banks.

The CD rates at bankrate.com are higher than local banks, but not higher than the brokered CDs that you can buy from Fidelity. Using the highest rates on bankrate.com means that you will be switching from one online bank to another to chase the highest rate every time a CD matures. If you have a Fidelity account, you have access to many CDs from many different banks that Fidelity will manage in one account. Also, with a brokered CD, you can liquidate the CD at any time at the current market value, which gives you more flexibility in managing your portfolio. You also get one consolidated 1099 tax form for all of your Fidelity investments. I really don't see an advantage to shopping for the highest CD rates on bankrate.com or doing business with non-local online banks at all. The only business I do with a bank is to have a credit card, a checking account, and for electronic bill pay. Any local bank can handle those transactions very well. If I want to earn interest, I use my Fidelity or Vanguard account.

[Gunny2403]

Who is offering 4% down the street

[Odale123]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Anyone here sign up for online banking, Savings, CD's, or money market?
Are they safe?

Interest rates are great

Yes, online banking saves time and is really simple to open an account. Navy Federal has a 5% CD right now! Hope the feedback helps out!

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Gunny2403

Who is offering 4% down the street

Fidelity. One year CD, 4.65 percent, five year CD, 4.4 percent.

[JWGifford]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Anyone here sign up for online banking, Savings, CD's, or money market?
Are they safe?

Interest rates are great

I’ve used both personal banking (checking account, savings account) and online investment services (Fidelity, Ameriprise) for years without issue.

[dhayward@att.net]

Ally bank. Best banking service I have ever used. Not to mention 3.3% on saving acct.

[daniel200]

Originally Posted by Gunny2403

Who is offering 4% down the street

Lots of options above 4%. This is Fidelity’s range of interest rates for various bonds & CD’s today

[toeser]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

I have my credit frozen so I would have to call and ask what credit co. they use
for new customers.

My credit has been frozen for many years and I have opened many online banking accounts. I think they care only if you are a borrower, not a depositor.

[Villages Kahuna]

I haven’t been inside a Bank of America branch in at least a decade. I get cash every couple of weeks using their drive-thru, but I have no reason to actually go inside the bank. If I need to deposit a check, I use their mobile app. If I ever have to actually speak with my BofA banker, she’s located right in my Merrill Lynch financial advisor’s office in Northbrook, Illinois. (Merrill Lynch is owned by Bank of America and they have personal bankers located in the larger ML offices.)

We’re full time here in TV, but I haven’t visited my advisor’s office more than 2-3 times in 25 years, using the ML app from my computer, iPad or iPhone. I talk to my advisor on the phone every couple of weeks, but while I call his number in Northbrook I know that very often I’m actually speaking with him from his home here in Florida. It’s seamless when his admin assistant connects us, as though she was sitting right outside his office. He tells me his setup with three computer screens, computers and a direct connection to the NYSE and Merrill analysts and traders is better than he has in his Northbrook office.

The days of actually going into a bank are over and the banks have electronic security measures in place that are better than those in their physical facilities. We do have a safe deposit box at the closest Citizens First branch and keep the minimum in the required checking account.

Electronic tools are extended to even filing tax returns. I already have TurboTax loaded on my desktop computer and my 2022 return started. On February 1, I’ll be able to have all the necessary records from both Merrill Lynch and Bank of America automatically entered into my tax return. Then, if I owe taxes, the IRS will automatically debit our checking account. If we get a refund, it’s electronically deposited to the checking account or my account at Merrill Lynch. If I file the return online on the first couple of days of February, I’ll get the refund within a couple weeks.

There’s nothing better or more secure than handling our financial affairs comfortably from my den or recliner!

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by dhayward@att.net

Ally bank. Best banking service I have ever used. Not to mention 3.3% on saving acct.

What does Ally do for you that any local bank cannot?

Regarding a savings rate, you can get a higher rate than 3.3 percent with a Vanguard or Fidelity money market account. Vanguard is currrently paying 4.28 percent..