Internet banking refers to banking operations carried out between banks and their clients through Internet. It is also commonly known as online banking. Internet banking helps in expediting banking operations, reducing the cost and ensuring that you can utilize various banking services in your living room or even while traveling thousands of miles away from your home.

The process of Internet banking begins with every customer being given a unique user name and password by a particular bank. The customer can log on to the bank's Web site and use this user name and password to access his or her bank account. Then he or she can give instructions online to the bank regarding any particular transaction.

All major banks provide the option of Internet banking to their customers. The banks keep a record of all online transactions. Though Internet banking is fast becoming the most popular mode of banking, there are certain security issues which still remain to be tackled. Though most of the banks claim that their Web sites have enough firewalls to prevent unauthorized access to anyone's account, hackers have shown this claim to be false more than once.

There is always the possibility that you didn't log out from your bank's Web site according to the set procedure, as you were in a hurry while working on a public computer or over a non-secured wireless connection. This could have serious consequences, as someone else could misuse your account.

One important safety precaution is to keep changing the password at regular intervals. For safety purposes, it is better to memorize your user name and password than write it on a piece of paper. If you have forgotten or lost your password, call your bank immediately. They will either help you to retrieve your old password or give you a new password.

Internet business banking services refer to those online services that are related mainly to business activities of the clients of a bank. Banks providing these services allow the transfer of business money and verification of account details. Also, account holders can pay certain bills from the account by just clicking their mouse. These services are not provided to all account holders; only those who qualify for Internet business banking services are provided these services.

A client has to authorize a bank to make certain decisions on his behalf whenever the client has decided to utilize an Internet banking services package. Digital signatures play an important role in this regard, as at times the bank may seek confirmation from you if there is any major transfer of funds. The authorization can be given through digital signatures.

Internet banking business services are becoming more and more popular for all types and sizes of businesses. They help in cutting down the red tape and expediting the transfer of money, which further helps in closing deals quickly.

To use these services, the client or the customer has to sign an agreement with the bank. This agreement can be signed online also. Before you sign this agreement, go through the various terms and conditions mentioned in the agreement. Also, it is better to keep a close watch on the Web site through which you operate your business account. Try to keep a tab on balances in your account. Report any discrepancies you may find immediately. If your business accounts are operated by one of your employees, then change your passwords and user names should this employee leave the company. You can get in touch with your bank and it can be done within no time. This will help you to enjoy safe Internet business banking.

Internet banking is a form of banking where almost all types of operations can be carried out online. Fund transfers, bill payment, balance inquiry and many other banking related transactions can be performed without actually leaving the confines of home or office. Offshore Internet banking is used by people who hold a bank account outside their country of residence. Offshore bank accounts are opened by individuals to save on taxes. The whole concept of offshore banking in the financial world is planned to facilitate protection of wealth and hard-earned assets. It also allows people with global business interests to conduct business in a confidential and private manner. This can be done by utilizing the advantages offered by offshore bank accounts, coupled with proper corporate formation, structuring and planning.

There are some countries in the world that are considered tax havens, as they allow individuals to deposit money in the banks of their country without levying high taxes. People who opt for this option usually have a lot of money and fall into high-income categories and tax brackets. People choose offshore banking because their country of residence may require them to pay an exorbitant amount of tax on their assets. They find it convenient to deposit their money elsewhere so there is no need to disclose this asset in their native country. If they do not declare this asset, they will not be liable to pay any tax on it. The rationale at the core of this concept simple: since the money is not physically present in the country, its laws will also not be applied to it. However, this does not always holds true in all the cases of depositing money in an offshore bank account.

As the individuals who have opened such bank accounts are mostly globetrotting businesspeople, the convenience of being able to access their overseas bank account from anywhere is very beneficial for them. Account holders with virtually negligible business interests overseas also find the facility of offshore Internet banking favorable, as they can perform transactions through their offshore accounts without physically leaving their country of residence.

I was one of the many people who thought the idea of a debit card was good when they first came out. Just think, it had so many positives. Not only would you not be charged interest, but you would be limited by what you had in your account. What could be better. That promise has quickly faded.

We now get wonderful love letters in our mail from our banks. These little letters tell us just how much they love collecting the NSF fees (non-sufficient funds). When we go back over our records many times we find out that it was debit card usage that was the problem. Now the $3 gallon of milk is costing us an additional $35. They sometimes even have the nerve to charge a $3 processing fee and an additional $35 because you did not have enough to cover your processing fee.

STOP THE MADNESS! Let's stop this legal rip-off and put more money back in your pocket. I am going to share with your three ways that you can avoid debit cards or at least lessen your dependence on them.

1. Use cash. I know this may be old school, but it actually works. Take enough cash out so that even if you get charged you will have to only pay one or two fees (remember the ATM fee and the NSF fee). This is better than being charged when you buy groceries, gas and then all the charges that will come through once you check account starts bouncing.

2. Get a pre-paid card. You can get these at Wal-Mart, Walgreens or ACE check cashing. You can pay your bills with these and they are not tied to your checking account. Another good thing is that the one that I received from ACE actually texts you your balance after every purchase.

I really did not like the fact that they needed my SSN and my drivers license number. I could not understand why they would need that for a pre-paid card, but at that point I would have given anything short of blood not to be charged another NSF. Make sure you read all the fine print, but this is a really good alternative.

3. Another alternative is to get a secured card. This is similar to a pre-paid card, however some actually report your good payment record. Some also allow you to charge more than you have secured. I will give you a list of those later. As always, make sure you read ALL the fine print.

It is time to stop giving away money. Isn't gas high enough? Can't you spend those extra dollars on reducing your debt, increasing your savings or just having fun with your family? Get the banks out of your pocket.

The debit card is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It can end up costing you a lot more than you ever would have thought about paying on a credit card. Take the steps above and stop madness. Got Credit Power-Empower Your Life!

Money management aims at ensuring that a sufficient amount of money is raised from appropriate sources at the right time, and is invested in suitable projects which would increases the net returns of the firm and thereby the value of the firm. Thus, money management consists of raising required funds, investing the funds and managing the working capital.

For the long and short-term requirements of the firm, a sufficient amount of funding is to be raised from different sources. While selecting the resources, they should match the purpose for which the fund is required. For example, the need for long-term funds like construction of building, acquisition of machinery, etc., should be sought from long-term sources like share capital, debentures or term loans.

Once the funds are raised, their investment may pose a serious problem. The basic criterion for investing in a particular asset is that it should realize a positive net return, i.e., the benefits should be more than the cost. Moreover, if there are mutually exclusive projects with positive net returns, the project with the highest net return should be selected. For this purpose, various techniques of capital budgeting are employed.

In addition to long-term capital, a concern wants short-term capital to manage the day-to-day running of the business. For efficient performance, the firm has to maintain a sufficient level of inventory to ensure uninterrupted production and distribution. Enough cash is required to meet the expenses and obligation of suppliers and creditors. There should be provisions for meeting any contingency, and a desired level of accounts receivable to retain the customers and to improve sales.

The money required for these purposes can be called working capital; the money locked up here does not generate income. But, for maintaining liquidity, the firm has to make sufficient investments here. Proper management of working capital is necessary to reach a trade-off between liquidity and profitability.

One of the greatest things that information technology has given the world is convenience. You can get almost any kind of information with the click of a mouse; you can transact many kinds of businesses in your pajamas, right in your living room anytime of the day.

A few years ago, it would have been impossible to imagine that traditional institutions like banks would follow the leadoff other companies and utilize the website as a major venue for transacting business. But the unmistakable advantages of Internet banking have convinced them to go high-tech. This trend has also seen the rise of a new breed of bankers: online financial organizations.

What You Should Know

An Internet bank functions much the same way as a traditional bank. It allows you to deposit your money and earn interest. You can withdraw, invest, and pay your bills through the bank as well. But with Internet banks, you usually get a higher annual percentage yield (APY).

The difference is derived from the savings a bank gets from doing away with overhead costs that a traditional bank has to worry about like maintaining a building at prime realty spots; an Internet bank does not have to have an office or branch you can visit to transact your banking activities. All the bank has to do is maintain a website you can access anytime, anywhere. This lower cost of operations ideally lets the Internet bank increase your savings interest rate.

Guide to Internet Banking

Before choosing the Internet bank where you will put your money, you have to have a clear set of priorities or requirements. For example, you have to decide which is more important, higher APY or high convenience when it comes to setting multiple accounts and investments through the bank. Some people need to have bank that can help them with moving money back and forth from one bank account to another without any hassle. Others prefer convenience in paying bills or purchasing products online using their bank savings. Still, many put excellent customer service at the top of the list.