An ode to online banking

[miladycarol]

I've been consistently amazed by the ease of banking over the years. It seems like every year it's a little more convenient.

Banks used to close at 5pm every weekday unless they stayed open until 6 on Fridays. They were never open on a weekend. Ever. There were no A.T.M. machines. They also used to give kids colorful lollipops.

Back in the day, I was working two to three jobs and was paid only on Fridays. On those Fridays, I went straight from one job to the next without time to stop at a bank (at which the lines were incredibly long) so I had no way to deposit my checks until Monday when I had to take time off at lunch. Bills were then paid on Tuesday or Wednesday after work.

Then came A.T.M. machines. I could leave work at 11:30pm on Friday (or later if I closed the theatre) and stop down the street at the machine. I could deposit both paychecks and, pay my bills Saturday morning (by writing out a check, in pen, posting it in an envelope in the mail, with stamps) and mail them Monday on the way to work. Awesome.

Then came the days of direct deposit. No banks. No lines. I could stop at an ATM and do a balance check, then write my bills that evening.

Now, there is online banking. I can transfer money, write checks, have them mail it, schedule automatic payments that require me to merely check my account to make sure they've done it and I can do this at any hour, any day, regardless of where I am in the world. With satellites being what they are, I could probably even do this from the Moon. I can receive and pay my bills from home or while on a trip to a foreign country. It's amazing. I remember when a 2 week trip required me to pre-plan my bill paying so I didn't miss any and get slapped with fees. Amazing.

Comments

[thoughtsbykat.livejournal.com]

Don't you just love progress when it's to our benefit?

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

I do. Nevertheless, the cynic in me wonders what might happen should our economy collapse. I remember accompanying my Mom on her rounds to pay bills downtown. Physically. Dad cashed his check on Fridays, the cash was distributed into the budget envelopes, then we'd go to the phone company, the electric company, the gas company, etc. in turn, stand in line and pay with cash. I wonder if we'll have to return to that at some point if the banks continue their downward plummet.

Have I seriously dated myself, or what? *giggles*

[thoughtsbykat.livejournal.com]

Nah, I know my husband's parents did the same thing.