Banks find it necessary to connect

by Sara Bisker
For The Post

College students are taking advantage of online banking programs to access their accounts.

"I basically (use online banking) to check my balance or transfer funds from a joint account into my own," said Ohio University freshman Garry Gross, a Bank One customer. "I never go into a bank."

Online banking saves customers time and is convenient and easier than going to the banks, said Robin Yocum, vice president of media relations for Bank One, 2 S. Court St.

Banks that offer online banking can transfer funds from accounts, access balances, view transaction history and pay bills online, said Alison Thompson, Internet banking manager for Peoples Bank, 1 N. Court St.

Peoples Bank began an online banking program called Peoples OnLine Connection in September 1999, Thompson said. Since Peoples Bank initiated their program, 4,500 users have used the service.

In 1999, 45 percent of households were online, Yocum said. And by 2005, the estimated number of online households will increase to 74 percent. By the year 2005, 26 million households will be paying bills online.

"We need to be where our customers need to access us," said Tammy Bobo, assistant vice president of Hocking Valley Bank, 23 S. Court St.

Hocking Valley Bank started an online banking program publicly in January, Bobo said. Since then, 900 users have operated online accounts.

"We see a wide use from students all the way through (senior citizens)," she said.

Some investors do not have the online banking option because they are not connected to the Internet, Yocum said. Others are not comfortable using it.

But some online investors said they are not worried about their Web transactions' security.

"I have a basic trust in network security," OU senior Rob Griffith said.

The banks are continuing to work on services to benefit their customers.

Hocking Valley Bank offers a feature where checks can be viewed online, Bobo said. Users can see the signature on their checks and when it was cleared.

The Peoples Bank site offers a shopping mall with links to local business merchants, Thompson said.