(ARA) - Life is hectic enough and in these economic times, it’s all the more important to carefully manage your money in a way that fits into your lifestyle. Utilizing tools that offer easy access to and constant control of your cash can save you valuable time and hassle.
The first thing to consider is that today, banks are enabling you to manage your finances on the go. Tools like mobile banking, online banking, and your local ATM simply make doing the hard stuff a little bit easier by giving you more control, convenience and choice.
Use these tips to help you manage your spending and to save you time:
Simplify your life
If you know you’re going to be a road warrior for the next few months or simply decide to go green, sign up for bill pay and e-Bills through your bank. Utilizing e-Bills means that you don’t have to wait for the bill to come to you and instead, can pay all your bills online at once.
“Bill pay takes it one step further and gives you extra control,” says Laurie Readhead, Bank of America eChannels and Customer Solutions executive. “By allowing you to set a schedule to pay any amount, bill pay can help you to avoid fees and simplify your life by knowing your bills will be paid on time.”
Ease your mind
Keep yourself, your credentials and personal information secure. Always look for extra protection to provide you with peace of mind like Bank of America's SiteKey -- an award winning online security sign-in feature that helps customers deter fraud. If Bank of America doesn't recognize the computer you're using, you will also be asked challenge questions to ensure only you can access your account. If you’re an online shopper, use ShopSafe -- another security feature that customers can log into to create a unique, temporary credit card number, eliminating the need to expose your real credit card number to online merchants. Be sure to keep your computer up to date with anti-virus software, and before typing in account or credit card information on a Web site, make sure the site is trusted and secure.
Stay alert
Stay current on your financial transactions by taking advantage of your bank's alerts, which can often be forwarded to your cell phone. Alerts can help you recognize any fraudulent activity on your account and can help you to avoid overdraft fees. Alerts also help you monitor your account balance to help decide if it’s the right time for that last minute purchase. To keep life simple and stay in control of your finances you can sign up for alerts that inform you when your account balance falls below a certain threshold.
Go mobile
Make sure your financial life fits seamlessly into your everyday routine through your bank’s mobile banking service. Check your balances and transactions, pay bills, transfer money, locate ATMs and more. Utilizing this convenient banking tool gives you immediate access to your finances through your mobile phone -- it’s just like having a bank branch in your pocket. And in today’s unpredictable economic environment, it has never been more important to have control of your money whenever, wherever you need it.
Find ways to save
Look for added value in your banking relationships that give you money back on things that are meaningful to your life. Use tools such as Bank of America’s online shopping portal, Add It Up(TM), where online banking customers can earn up to 20 percent cash back on purchases from more than 300 online retailers. Add It Up also allows you to shop on your time from your home. Be sure to also monitor your accounts daily to see how much money you are spending and saving. By keeping current on your budget and checking your accounts online, you may discover areas where spending can be cut back.
Be sure to utilize the tools these financial institutions offer. Create the program that fits your lifestyle. Chances are, you are doing a lot more work then you have to.
For more information on Online Banking and Bank of America’s Add It Up(TM) program, go to www.bankofamerica.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
