What is PC Banking?
PC banking is a convenient way to access your checking, savings or money market accounts via computer without ever stepping into a physical bank. Most banks offer PC banking free of charge or for a small fee as part of their financial services.
- PC banking offers customers the ability to manage their checking, savings or money market accounts via the Internet on either a personal computer or a smartphone. When customers sign up for a new bank account, they can sign up for PC banking. Most banks will issue the customer a temporary login and password, which can be changed after the first login. Banks can also link accounts, allowing the PC banking interface to show customers every account they have when they login.
- One of the features of PC banking is the ability to see up to the minute account information. Customers using PC banking can see their account balance, deposits, debit card transactions, ACH transactions and checks that have either cleared or posted to their account. Banks also post monthly statements in the PC banking interface that can be downloaded as a PDF or directly into a financial program like QuickBooks or Quicken.
- PC banking also allows customers to transfer funds from linked accounts, if needed. Using this feature can allow customers to move money immediately. This can be helpful if a customer does not keep much money in his or her checking account, but needs to make a major purchase. By simply moving money from a savings or money market account, this can cover the cost.
- With the introduction of smartphones over the years, PC banking has also gone mobile. Major banks have developed PC banking apps for smartphones that allow customers to perform most of the same transactions they would if they were on a computer. Some banks have also begun to allow customers to deposit checks by taking a picture of the front and back of the check with their smartphone while in the PC banking app.