If you’re looking to invest with an online bank and this is possibly your first time, you may be hesitate in giving out all of your personal information online. Don’t worry because you’re not the only person out there.

Banking online has really only started to become big over the past five years and as baby boomers get older, they may find that their money will actually get more their buck online rather than at a brick and mortar type bank.

When banking online, it’s important that you follow these steps in order to maintain the maximum safety.

Make sure the bank is legit

If you found the bank on gotalkmoney.com, you’re in luck. Every bank on this website is FDIC insured. If you didn’t find the bank on gotalkmoney, don’t sweat it, we will show you how to find out if this bank is actually legit.

• First off, you will want to head over to http://www2.fdic.gov/idasp/main_bankfind.asp
  
• From there, pop in the bank’s name in the name search. Most of the times you will not have to put in an address and such. If you want, it’s up to you
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• After you complete the search, the bank name should hopefully pop up. If the bank did, this means the bank is FDIC insured and is legit

Sign up for an account

Once you find out if the bank is legit or not, you will want to sign up for an actual account. If you don’t feel safe signing up online, most banks offer a toll-free number where you can call and set up the account over the phone.

If you do decide to sign up online, make sure the website is SSL encrypted. This will ensure you that your information gets to the proper authorities and is properly encrypted, so that a hacker can’t steal your information.

Protect your password

When you have your account up and running, it’s important that you protect your password. Make sure that you don’t give out your username and password to anyone. If they have access to this information, they can basically do anything they want with your money! It’s always best to write down your password and username and store it in a secured locked position inside your home.

If you do forget your password and/or account information, don’t sweat it, you will usually be able to retrieve it using the bank’s password management system.

Phishing E-mails

Banks will NEVER ask for personal information via e-mail. Hackers trying to get your account information technically use these e-mails. They will usually tend to mass e-mail people in hopes someone will send the information.

If you ever make receive one of these phishing e-mails where they ask for your information, contact your bank immediately and relay the problem onto them.

These are some of the most important steps to take when applying for a bank account online. It’s always safe to be smart. If it seems fishy, it probably is. Banking online is very rewarding and it’s where you’ll get the best rate for your money. Always remember to be responsible and be smart when it comes to your money!