When you think of things that make your life easier, what comes to mind? Smart phones? Other electronic devices? Household appliances? One of the biggest boosts to easier living in the last decade has been mobile and online banking technology. It’s easy. It’s convenient. And it has a lot to offer.

Online account opening. Most financial institutions allow you to open a new account within minutes and from anywhere.

Enhanced security. Access to banking information is protected by multiple protection layers to keep your personal data private and prevent unauthorized access. It’s vital that you follow the security protocols established by your financial institution.

Instant access 24/7. Enjoy a full range of services from your cell phone, computer, or tablet anytime, anywhere.

Save money. By automating your finances using the bill pay service available in online banking, you can ensure your payments are on-time.

Convenience. Skip the long lines. Easily check balances on all accounts, view transactions and monthly statements from the palm of your hand. You have immediate access to your bank statements for your tax or personal records.

Pay bills. Save time and money with this free service. Schedule payments or set up autopay to automatically pay bills from one website (Heritage Grove Bill Pay).

Automate your savings. Online banking allows you to have some of your paycheck directly deposited into your savings account or funds can be scheduled to automatically transfer from your checking to your savings.

Make loan payments. Avoid late fees by scheduling all of your loan payments before the due date. If your loan is at Heritage Grove, you can make a transfer from your savings/checking account to the loan at any time.

Mobile deposits. Deposit personal and business checks safely, securely, and without having to visit a branch or ATM.

Transfer money between accounts. Move your cash quickly between accounts or by sending to an external account. You can set up automatic transfers to move money into a savings account or other accounts to make loan payments.

Integrate with other apps. Take control of your finances with budgeting, expense and other apps that automatically track your spending and saving habits.

Monitor fraud. Set up alerts to be notified by text, email, or phone if your financial institution suspects fraudulent activity on your account.

Alerts and notifications. By setting up notifications on your account, you can view your latest transaction and balance activity on your account.

Heritage Grove offers free mobile and online banking services. Like banking within a branch, you sign on to your online account from anywhere that has an internet connection–using a smartphone, computer, or tablet.

Protecting Online Financial Information

Mobile and online banking makes handling your finances easier and more convenient, but it is imperative to make sure that you are protecting your financial information. When setting up or updating your account passwords, keep the following in mind…

• Build strong passwords for your accounts and make them all different.
• Create passwords that are hard to guess and include a combination of numbers, special characters, uppercase and lowercase letters.
• Avoid using names, dates, or common words.
• Wifi hotspots in coffee shops, libraries, airports, hotels, and other public places are convenient, but often not secure. If you connect to a Wi-Fi network and send information through websites or mobile apps, it might be accessed by someone else. For more tips and information on using public Wi-Fi access, please visit https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-safely-use-public-wi-fi-networks.

For additional financial articles, check out our financial fitness resources at Balance. Questions? Call 503-588-0211.