According to a Federal Reserve survey, nearly 50% of mobile phone owners with bank accounts in 2022 reported using mobile banking services. Along with mobile banking, there are some bank account features that are important which help users to pay bills, send money fast, and check balances.
The following are six features you should consider when opening a new bank account.
A Debit Card
A debit card allows you to make purchases without carrying cash. In a Federal Reserve survey, 30% of customers said debit cards were their favorite method of payment. When opening a new bank account, make sure that a debit card is offered and check whether there is a price associated with having one.
Online & Mobile Banking
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), overdraft and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees were collected by banks with assets exceeding USD 1 billion in 2022. If you want to keep a tight eye on your finances, online and mobile banking plays an important role. You can avoid losing money to fees by being aware of your inventory and spending.
Mobile Check Deposit
You can avoid the hassle of making a trip to the bank by using a mobile check deposit feature. You only need to use your smartphone to take a picture of your check, and then a few button presses will deposit it for you without even going to an ATM.
Online Bill Payment
If you are tired of writing checks, another feature you should seek in a bank is online bill payment. According to data from the Federal Reserve, 80% of consumers who had paper checks did not even use them once. It noted that 75% of customers used internet banking instead of checks.
Email & Text Alerts
When you are scheduling your bill payment, you should always set up text and email alerts for your accounts. Email and text alerts feature notifies you when your balance drops to a certain point or each time a new transaction post to your account. The feature could be very helpful if you are worried that a hacker will take your account information and use it to make unauthorized purchases.
Excellent Security
Identity theft is a serious issue. While opening a new bank account be sure to ask about the security measures a particular bank has in place. Also, take precautions to make your card transactions secure, such as finding out if your debit and credit cards have fraud monitoring and an on/off button.