Electronic Banking
For many consumers, electronic banking means 24-hour access to cash through an automated teller machine (ATM) or Direct Deposit of paychecks into checking or savings accounts. But electronic banking now involves many different types of transactions.
Electronic banking, also known as electronic fund transfer (EFT), uses computer and electronic technology as a substitute for checks and other paper transactions. EFTs are initiated through devices like cards or codes that let you, or those you authorize, access your account. Many financial institutions use ATM or debit cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) for this purpose. Some use other forms of debit cards such as those that require, at the most, your
signature or a scan. The federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFT Act) covers some electronic consumer transactions.
Electronic Fund Transfers
EFT offers several services that consumers may find practical:
- Automated Teller Machines or 24-hour Tellers are electronic terminals that let you bank almost any time. To withdraw cash, make deposits, or transfer funds between accounts, you generally insert an ATM card and enter your PIN. Some financial institutions and ATM owners charge a fee, particularly to consumers who don’t have accounts with them or on transactions at remote locations. Generally, ATMs must tell you they charge a fee and its amount on or at the terminal screen before you complete the transaction. Check the rules of your institution and ATMs you use to find out when or whether a fee is charged.
- Direct Deposit lets you authorize specific deposits, such as paychecks and Social Security checks, to your account on a regular basis. You also may pre-authorize direct withdrawals so that recurring bills, such as insurance premiums, mortgages, and utility bills, are paid automatically. Be cautious before you pre-authorize direct withdrawals to pay sellers or companies with whom you are unfamiliar; funds from your bank account could be withdrawn fraudulently.
- Pay-by-Phone Systems let you call your financial institution with instructions to pay certain bills or to transfer funds between accounts. You must have an agreement with the institution to make such transfers.
- Personal Computer Banking lets you handle many banking transactions via your personal computer. For instance, you may use your computer to view your account balance, request transfers between accounts, and pay bills electronically.
- Debit Card Purchase Transactions let you make purchases with a debit card, which also may be your ATM card. This could occur at a store or business, on the Internet or online, or by phone. The process is similar to using a credit card, with some important exceptions. While the process is fast and easy, a debit card purchase transfers money — fairly quickly — from your bank account to the company’s account. So it’s important that you have funds in your account to cover your purchase. This means you need to keep accurate records of the dates and amounts of your debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals in addition to any checks you write. Also be sure you know the store or business before you provide your debit card information, to avoid the possible loss of funds through fraud. Your liability for unauthorized use, and your rights for error resolution, may differ with a debit card.
- Electronic Check Conversion converts a paper check into an electronic payment in a store or when a company receives your check in the mail. In a store, when you give your check to a cashier, the check is run through an electronic system that captures your banking information and the amount of the check. You’re asked to sign a receipt and you get a copy for your records. When your check has been handed back to you, it should be voided or marked by the merchant so that it can’t be used again. The merchant electronically sends information from the check (but not the check itself) to your bank or other financial institution, and the funds are transferred into the merchant’s account. When you mail-in a check for payment to a merchant or other company, they may electronically send information from your check (but not the check itself) through the system, and the funds are transferred into their account. For a mailed check, you should still receive advance notice from a company that expects to send your check information through the system electronically. The merchant or other company might include the notice on your monthly statement or under its terms and conditions. The notice also should state if the merchant or company will electronically collect from your account a fee — like a “bounced check” fee — if you have insufficient funds to cover the transaction.
Be especially careful in Internet and telephone transactions that may involve use of your bank account information, rather than a check. A legitimate merchant that lets you use your bank account information to make a purchase or pay on an account should post information about the process on their website or explain the process over the telephone. The merchant also should ask for your permission to electronically debit your bank account for the item you’re purchasing or paying on. However, because Internet and telephone electronic debits don’t occur face-to-face, you should be cautious with whom you reveal your bank account information. Don’t give this information to sellers with whom you have no prior experience or with whom you have not initiated the call, or to companies that seem reluctant to provide information or discuss the process with you.
Not all electronic fund transfers are covered by the EFT Act. For example, some financial institutions and merchants issue cards with cash value stored electronically on the card itself. Examples include prepaid telephone cards, mass transit passes, and some gift cards. These “stored-value” cards, as well as transactions using them, may not be covered by the EFT Act. This means you may not be covered for the loss or misuse of the card. Ask your financial institution or merchant about any protections offered for these cards.