Online Banking Provides Convenience and Satisfaction for Customers

Online Banking Provides Convenience and Satisfaction for Customers
Online Banking Provides Convenience and Satisfaction for Customers

With 31 banks offering Internet banking and with nearly 19 million Internet banking subscribers conducting more than 210 million banking transactions with a value of 2.33 billion Ringgit, as on June 2015 / first half of 2015, Online or Internet banking has become a very popular means of conducting banking in Malaysia.

And, when queried most online banking customers swear by the convenience and satisfaction that online banking affords. Here, we will try and take a look at what makes online banking so convenient and satisfactory for customers:

Anytime, anywhere access

As an online banking user, you get 24 hours * 7 days a week * round the year access to a wide range of banking services. And, you get this access from wherever you are – whether in Malaysia or overseas and at whatever time that feels convenient for you. And, this access is immediate depending only upon the speed of your Internet connection!

Real-time

Online banking is real-time! You can track and monitor your transactions as and when they happen. And, if you notice anything out of the ordinary, you can immediately flag it up to your bank.

Wide range of banking services

As an online banking user, you can conduct a whole range of banking transactions. These include opening or closing term deposits, transferring funds, paying bills, managing cheques, trading, investing, changing your account limits, applying for credit cards or loans – the list is virtually endless.

Online Banking also provides you with the facility to link all your accounts – savings, current, term deposits, loans, credit cards under the same account name. With all your banking accounts under one roof you can better manage your spending and saving. You can set standing instructions for regular bill payments and since you know your spending patterns well you can also set instructions for sweeping account surplus to term deposits thus enhancing your savings. Financial management becomes so much more easier.

Online banking – security

Banks take utmost pains to ensure a safe and pleasant banking experience when you visit them online. In fact, almost all banks use a 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL), which is one of the strongest encryption technologies used by large-scale online merchants, global banks, and brokerages worldwide.

In addition, various banks have different authentication procedures in place that enhance the security of your banking. Finally, you can also opt to receive real-time alerts and reminders through SMS and/or email whenever transactions (financial or non-financial) occur on your account. You can get on top of possible frauds as soon as they occur.

Free

Accessing and using online and mobile banking is free. Of course, your Internet or mobile provider will charge your for your Internet usage. And, certain services used through online banking may be charged. These could include interbank transfers, telegraphic transfers, cheque book requisitions etc.

Benefits Of Using Online Banking Services

Benefits of using online banking services
Benefits of using online banking services

Internet banking or online banking is a system that allows customers of a bank to carry out financial transactions over the Internet through their bank’s secure banking website. According to statistics published by the Bank Negara Malaysia, there were 15.9 million Internet banking subscribers representing more than half the nation’s population. Catering to their needs were 31 banks which offered Internet banking services; of these, 13 banks are also offering mobile banking services, online banking’s latest evolution.

And, during the first quarter of 2014, 79.4 million Internet-enabled financial transactions worth Ringgit 1,037.1 million were carried out – attesting to the increased popularity of online banking. Let’s look at some of the main reasons why online banking has become so popular:

24/7 access

With online banking, you now have access to a near full range of banking services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, round the year, excepting downtimes! What is even more attractive is that this access is immediate – no travelling, no waiting for parking and no waiting in queues!

Convenient

With an online banking-enabled account you can now perform a whole host of banking transactions from the convenience of wherever you are. These include opening or closing term deposits, transferring funds, paying bills, managing cheques, trading, investing, changing your account limits, applying for credit cards or loans etc.

Up-to-the minute overview

Online banking provides you with a real-time view of all your accounts; you can view your latest position on all your accounts; many banks also support such real-time monitoring with SMS and email alerts.

One-stop shop for financial management

Internet banking provides you with the facility to link and monitor all your accounts – savings, current, term deposits, loans, credit cards etc. Such an overarching view will enable you to better manage your spending and saving. You can set standing instructions for regular bill payments and since you know your spending patterns well you can also set instructions for sweeping account surplus to term deposits thus enhancing your savings. Financial management becomes so much more easier when you are online.

Secure

Internet banking is both safe and secure. Almost all banks use a 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL), which is one of the strongest encryption technologies used by large-scale online merchants, global banks, and brokerages worldwide. In addition, various banks have different authentication procedures in place that enhance the security of your banking. You can also opt for receiving alerts and reminders whenever transactions happen enabling you to be alert to fraudulent happenings on your account.

Free

Registration to and using of online banking services is generally free although certain services availed through Internet Banking may be charged; these possibly include interbank transfers, telegraphic transfers, cheque book requisitions etc.

Mobile banking

Bank Negara statistics reveal that, as at the end of Mar ’14, there are nearly 4 million mobile banking subscribers representing over 13 percent of the population; in the first quarter of 2014, more than 52 million transactions were carried out with a total value of more than 3200 million Ringgit. Mobile banking refers to banking services that can be accessed using mobile through mobile-enabled websites, SMSes or through the use of specific apps. Mobile banking is the latest evolution of online banking.

Various Types Of Banking In Malaysia

Various types of banking in Malaysia
Various types of banking in Malaysia

The following types of banking institutions are prevalent in Malaysia:

Conventional Banking

Conventional banking is the conduct of banking as per the laws and regulations that govern banking in a country. In Malaysia, conventional banking is supervised by the Central Bank of Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia by the powers vested in it through the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 2009.

Conventional banks in Malaysia are required to comply with the provisions under the Financial Services Act, 2013. Currently there are 27 commercial banks in Malaysia who offer retail banking services.

Islamic Banking

Islamic banking refers to a system of banking that complies with Islamic law also known as Shariah law. In Malaysia, Islamic banks are supervised by Bank Negara Malaysia and have to comply with the provisions given in the Islamic Financial Services Act, 2013. Currently, in Malaysia, there are 16 Islamic and 5 international Islamic banks. And, a number of other banks operate through Islamic banking “windows”.

Investment Banking

Unlike commercial banks which focus on providing retail credit and loan facilities, investment or merchant banks provide more sophisticated and complex banking facilities like raising capital by way of syndication, corporate financial advisory services, management of investment portfolios, listing of public companies, underwriting of new issues of shares, mergers and acquisitions and the restructuring of companies, especially those under Section 176 of the Companies Act, 1965.

13 investment banks currently operate in Malaysia. Investment banks are supervised both by Bank Negara and the Securities Commission.

Offshore Banking

Malaysia also offers offshore / international investment, banking and financial services through the offshore financial hub, the Labuan International Business and Finance Centre (IBFC) which comes under the purview and supervision of the Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA; formerly known as Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority — LOFSA).

Banking services in Malaysia are offered through the following channels:

Branch Banking

A branch is a retail location through which a bank offers its services to customers both through face-to-face and automated delivery. One may access almost the entire array of a bank’s products or services through the bank’s branches “over the counter” though there may be certain products/services that are offered only at certain branches. All commercial and Islamic banks offer their services through branches the total number of which in Malaysia has been estimated to be nearly four thousand.

Online Banking

Internet Banking or Online Banking or PC-Banking as it was known then started off in Malaysia in the 1990s. Internet banking is basically the accessing of a range of banking services through a bank’s secure website. Today, 31 banks (conventional and Islamic) in Malaysia offer Internet banking services. And, as on March 2014 there are 15.9 million Internet banking subscribers which works out to a penetration rate of slightly more than half the population.

Phone Banking

Phone Banking or Telebanking services as it was known then commenced in Malaysia in the 1990s. Phone banking is the provision of banking services through the phone. Customers can contact their bank on the bank’s customer service number and get a range of banking services done. In many cases, these phone banking numbers are toll-free.

Mobile Banking

Customers can also access banking services through their mobile phones or smartphones. As on March 2014 as per Bank Negara statistics there were nearly 4 million mobile banking subscribers. Banking services can be accessed either through SMS or through the use of apps. Currently, there are 13 banks in Malaysia which offer mobile banking services.

Best 6 Benefits of Online Banking

Benefits of Online BankingInternet Banking or Online Banking or Net Banking or Web Banking or E Banking is the conduct of banking transactions via the Internet through the Bank’s Internet portal. Internet Banking’s popularity in Malaysia can be gauged from the fact that the number of users has risen from 2.6 million in 2005 to 15.5 million in 2013 representing 74% of the banking population of which 42% are regular, active users. This is because there are a host of benefits to be derived from Internet Banking:

1. Accessibility

Internet Banking provides users with 24 hour access to banking services, 7 days a week, round the year. What is more important is that this access is immediate – no travelling, no waiting for parking and then no waiting in queues!

2. Easy Financial Management

Online Banking provides you with the facility to link all your accounts – savings, current, term deposits, loans, credit cards under the same account name. With all your banking accounts under one roof you can better manage your spending and saving. You can set standing instructions for regular bill payments and since you know your spending patterns well you can also set instructions for sweeping account surplus to term deposits thus enhancing your savings. Financial management becomes so much more easier.

3. Updated

Internet Banking provides you with an up-to-date, in fact up-to-the-minute view of all your accounts.

4. Secure

Online Banking is generally very safe and secure. Almost all banks use a 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL), which is one of the strongest encryption technologies used by large-scale online merchants, global banks, and brokerages worldwide. In addition, various banks have different authentication procedures in place that enhance the security of your banking. You can also opt for receiving alerts and reminders whenever transactions happen enabling you to be alert to fraudulent happenings on your account.

5. Complete Banking convenience

Online Banking permits you to conduct a whole host of banking transactions from the convenience of wherever you are. These include opening or closing term deposits, transferring funds, paying bills, managing cheques, trading, investing, changing your account limits, applying for credit cards or loans – the list is virtually endless.

6. Free

Subscription to Internet Banking services is generally free although certain services availed through Internet Banking may be charged including interbank transfers, telegraphic transfers, cheque book requisitions etc.