There's some site i want to sign up with but i don't want to keep giving my card number. I've already done it with many sites for online shopping.

My bank has a thing where you can create one time credit card numbers.. so the real  one is not given to the sites where you purchase.

So i wanted to sign up for an online account at my bank so that i can do that...but the whole online banking thing. i dont know....some people say it's not safe.

is  it safe or  not?

Suggest that you phone your bank and express your concerns to them directly. They are usually very familiar with this type of question and can give advice tailored to their system.

My own advice would be to never, ever use a wireless connection for anything that you wish to be secure.

Millions of people use it daily.

Do NOT just "sign up" with some company online. Talk to your bank, get their own website link, and if you are unsure, set it up there at the bank.

Nothing on the internet is ever completely secure. Words to live by.

Laurie

Been using my bank on line for years now, I can't remember last time I actually went in there. My pay goes in, my bills go out every Month by DD and and CC payments I do on line with my bank on a Saturday without having to go there, it's a breeze..

Wouldn't operate my bank accounts any other way..

Paypal ............. may be a good alternative.

Not all sites accept paypal. Paypal use to have a feature that could create a credit card temporary number to use in websites, but they stopped that feature.

Ok if i try signing up for Online banking, can i cancel my online banking use later on? Cause i'm not planning to use online banking for long, just want to purchase some things

Hmm..reading it again, I'm not sure what you want from on-line banking. For me it's a way to keep on top of my accounts but I never use it for making purchases on-line. For that I use a CC and then pay that off using on-line banking instead of going into the bank to pay it..

I don't know where you live but here in Wales all my CC transactions are covered against fraud. I had one a while back where my card had been used to pay for a mobile phone top up which I don't do because I'm on contract.. My CC Company contacted me because it flagged as a strange transaction to them and I don't know what happened after that other than that I didn't pay for it..

As with most things you sign up for, the signing up is a lot easier than cancelling. Wanting to switch back from 'paperless', the bank says the website is a separate entity and has to do it, and there's no place on the website to 'un-sign up', or a website number to call. Sort of like the phone company, and the cable company...

What I've done is gotten a credit card that is used for online stuff only. Easier to keep an eye on, and, if it needs to be cancelled, it doesn't leave me with no card to use in RL. I would suppose you could get a pre-paid credit card (available just about everywhere), load it with just what you need, and either pitch it when empty, or keep it loaded with a very small amount.

Quote - ...I would suppose you could get a pre-paid credit card (available just about everywhere), load it with just what you need, and either pitch it when empty, or keep it loaded with a very small amount.

I agree. Probably your safest bet.

Laurie

bank accounts are insured for up to 250K now, so I wouldn't worry about it. if something goes missing it isn't that hard to get it back.

Quote - bank accounts are insured for up to 250K now, so I wouldn't worry about it. if something goes missing it isn't that hard to get it back.

*depending on country and local laws.

True, forgot this is international now. LOL

Online banking is probably safe provided you're not with Santander.  

From the way this post is written, it sounds like you are confused about actual online banking and credit usage.  As some of the others mention, online banking gives you the convenience of tracking deposits/withdrawals, transfers, and online billing.  You can use this in conjunction with a debit card which is similar to a bank card for immediate payments instead of carrying cash.  This is not something you use then discontinue, it is a service your bank provides free of charge.  Credit cards, on the other hand, are services which provide the convenience of tracking credit charges and ease of payment online, eliminating the need to post hardcopy checks by a designated date.  The service is also free.  As to how secure they really are, Laurie makes a very valid point. 

If you are very concerned about secure online transactions, then purchasing a rechargeable cc could be the answer for better tracking.  Even designating 1 particular cc for such purchases, is much more manageable than balancing several cards at once.  But if you pursue this option, I would recommend never canceling those credit cards.  Doing so will dramatically affect your credit rating, and raise red flags concerning how you manage your finances in the long term.

Use my credit card, which is supposed to offer some protection to buy things, however I would consider online banking a whole different thing. My sister had money taken from her account before Christmas. That bank realised what had happened, and she will get the money back, but the bank had to freeze the account, cancel the card and sent a new one out. This meant that for a week or so before Christmas, she wasn't able to use her card or account. Not that great when you want to do your Christmas shopping or buy food. Also means that she has to get in contact with anyone that she pays via direct debit.

In my opinion, credit card purchaces on secure site, ok, but still be cautious.

Online banking, no way would I even try it.

Quote - Nothing on the internet is ever completely secure. Words to live by.

Laurie

Yep. 

That being said, I've been doing online banking for years.  I only access the bank's website from a bookmark in my favourites, and never through email links.

Quote - Yep. 
That being said, I've been doing online banking for years.  I only access the bank's website from a bookmark in my favourites, and never through email links.

YEP and double YEP  !!!

Quote - From the way this post is written, it sounds like you are confused about actual online banking and credit usage. 

That's what came to my mind at first, but if they are already using something like PayPal then they already use online banking.  Just on the spending side and not the savings side.

As for online banking being safe,  Well it's only as safe as you make it and as safe as the banks efforts are to keep your money safe.  If your bank doesn't make an effort to recover your money or take a loss from money being stolen from your account then don't bother with that bank.  Some banks keep watch for unusual expenditures so if there's a spending pattern that seems unnatural then they will try to stop it from happening as well as replace the money if the crooks are successful.

like one poster said. never login to a bank account through an email. And I would highly recommend that you get a new email account specifically for financial purposes. That way anything dealing with your bank should only come in through that one email. This is somethign I do so when I see bank emails on my other email addresses I know right away it's a scam because the banks don't know my other email addresses.

And never save your password in your browser or access your bank account from a public computer.