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How does online banking work. Does my bank print a check and mail it to the payee?

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Or is money wired to the payee from my bank? Doesn't online banking cost the bank money? How come banks don't charge for this service. I'm not naive I know they pass on the cost to me but how?

Online banking is a bigger term than simply online bill pay. There are several ways your bank can pay your payee - one is that they simply mail a check. The other, if they do a lot of business with the payee, is to simply make an electronic payment (ACH) to your payee - usually places like your electric company. Another way, if the payee banks at the same bank, is to simply deposit money to the payee's account at the bank.

Any of these cost the bank no more than if you had written a paper check or had initiated an ACH/wire transfer and in some cases, costs them less.

Some banks offer these services for free, others don't. One of my banks charges me about $0.65 to send a check from the bank but doesn't charge me to electronically pay someone. Another of my banks charges nothing to send a check but they don't like doing an ACH so they charge me for that.

In the long run, nothing at a bank is free - it will be paid for somehow. Usually with banking fees.

How your Bank Can Save you Money

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If you think your bank is costing you too much money, then now is the time to look at ways your bank can help you save money rather than spend it. Although there will always be bank charges and fees, there are ways to save money using banks and make the most of their services. Here are some tips about how to cut down on bank costs and save yourself money.

Savings

One way to save yourself money through your bank is to open a savings account. If you have a fair amount of money in your current account, then transferring it to a savings account with a high interest rate is a good idea. Having a savings account does more than just save you money; it earns you money. The interest generated from a savings account means that you are making money from the money that you store. However, you should remember that many banks charge a fee unless if you go below a minimum amount in the account, so keep track of this in order to save yourself money.

ATM charges

Another way that you can save money when banking is to use free ATM machines. Some ATM’s charge you a fee to take money out, either for the convenience of because the ATM does not belong to your bank. If at all possible you should stick to ATM’s that don’t charge you money. If you do this regularly then you could save yourself £100 a year or more.

Overdrafts

Perhaps the most expensive fees that you can get charged by your bank are for using an unauthorised overdraft. Even if you never go into the red, it is advisable to agree an overdraft amount with your bank. This will save you a lot of money in case you do ever go into the red, and it costs you nothing if you don’t use it.

Online banking

Online banking can save you money by helping you to pay bills on time and avoiding late payment fees. It can also help you to manage your money better and so budget more effectively thus reducing your spending. However, some banks will charge you for the privilege of using online banking. You should definitely look for a bank or account that does not charge you for using online banking, as there is no need to pay for basic online banking these days. Although the fees might be minimal, any money saved is good.

Borrowing money

Perhaps the area you can save the most money on is when you borrow money. Make sure that you get the best deal possible on any credit cards or loans you take out, and remove any unnecessary features that are costing you money.

Change banks if you have to

If your bank is still costing you more money than you would like, then don’t be afraid to look elsewhere. There is no reason why you should be loyal to a bank if they don’t serve your needs, and other banks may offer you better rates because you are a new customer. Even if you are currently happy you should look at the competition every few months to make you that sure terms are the best you can get.

Educational Insights Bank Amerikid ATM Bank, ages 5 & up

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Bank Amerikid ATM Bank, ages 5 & up

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How long can the bank hold the funds for a check I deposit?

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My bank, Washington Mutual, where I've been banking for 2+ months, continues to hold funds on every check I deposit for a minimum of 4 days, up to 2 weeks. The 4-day rule is for a check from a local bank. The 2 week rule is for non-local checks. They are very uncompromising about these excessive hold times, and get testy when challenged about them. My previous bank never held checks for so long. I have no adverse banking history that would require WaMu to be so careful.

Please don't tell me only what your bank does; I would like to hear from those who actually know what the Federal regulations are on this matter. I've made a few phone calls about this and looked online, but I can't find reliable, up-to-date information. Thanks for your help.

I believe the bank can hold your check until the funds are physically in their possession from the bank the check is drafted on.

That being said in my experience most banks will work with business customers and only hold checks over a certain value or only hold checks from banks you do not have in your regular deposits. If this bank will not work with you my suggestion is to go to one that will.

50 Cent - Straight To The Bank MUSIC VIDEO

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50 Cent - Straight To The Bank MUSIC VIDEO
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GET THE RINGTONE! Text FIFTY6A to 30303

Duration : 0:3:33

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The Orchard Bank Credit Cards: The Answer To Bad Credit

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There are few more stressful things than dealing with dinged credit. Millions of Americans have experience with it, so there is a large pool of experience and options to draw from. The important thing to realize is that if you are determined to repair your credit, the right tools are available to help you. One option is The Orchard Bank MasterCard.

What to Expect in General

There is no “one-size-fits-all” explanation for choosing credit cards to fix up your FICO score. There are, however, a few general expectations across the category. Whether it is true or not, credit vendors consider lower FICO scores as higher risk. That pretty much means two things: higher interest rates and lower credit limits.

You can expect to see that for at least the first year of the rebuilding process. Initial credit limits will be anywhere from $250 to $1000, most likely somewhere toward the middle or lower end. The third feature to expect from this category, including Orchard’s cards, is an annual fee as well as a process fee. These fees are one of a few ways that banks mitigate the risk of default.

What to Expect from Orchard

Orchard Bank, a branch of credit giant HSBC, has an industry-wide reputation as a “go-to” card for those seeking to repair their credit. Orchard Bank offers a few features across its credit card products. Firstly, they promise an offer after the application process. While that may not mean an unsecured card, they do have relaxed approval restrictions to get almost everybody started. They offer an array of cards with different levels of obligations and credit requirements. Here are their primary offerings:

The Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard - As the “Platinum” moniker might suggest, this is the top of the line option from Orchard. The Platinum MasterCard comes with every feature somebody recovering from bad credit could hope for. The Platinum MasterCard will offer a slightly higher credit limit and lower interest rate for its users, and nice features like hotel reservation and car rental service. The Platinum MasterCard has a $39-$59 annual fee based on credit worthiness. The Platinum card has the most (relatively) stringent credit history requirements of these four cards.

The Orchard Bank Gold MasterCard – The Orchard Bank Gold MasterCard extremely similar to it’s Platinum cousin. With a maximum initial credit line of $1000, the Gold MasterCard has the same features, but a slightly higher annual fee of $79 and a $19 process fee. As far as relative strictness goes, the credit guidelines for the Gold card fall in the middle of Orchard’s lineup.

The Orchard Bank Silver MasterCard - You guessed it: Silver. It’s the logical next step. And just like the Gold and Platinum MasterCard, the Silver offers all of the same features, albeit with a $49 annual fee in addition to a $49 process fee. We expect to see more approvals on the Silver, but probably with higher interest rates and lower limits.

The Orchard Bank Secured MasterCard - The Secured card is the bedrock of rebuilding bad credit. If you have trouble getting approved for the other offers, the this is the way to go. Secured cards, as the name implies, require a security deposit prior to usage. Typically companies, including Orchard Bank, will ask for 100%-200% of the desired credit limit upon approval. The Orchard Bank Secured cards look and act just like a regular credit card, and with time, can lead to unsecured cards with increased limits.

In general, all Orchard Bank cards share some common features. If you stay on top of your payments and refuse to let yourself get behind, then these cards will help you rebuild your credit; they do so by reporting to the three major credit bureaus every thirty days. This gives you an opportunity to show that you can handle credit card debt. These cards are accepted at over 22 million locations, and can get you a cash advance on over 770 thousand ATMs.

Since it’s inception, HSBC has helped over 2 million Americans take the first step toward rebuilding their credit. Apply today, and you could be the next to benefit from this great line of products!

Impossible Possibilities Through Online Bank Accounts

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Nowdays we do everything online. Right from ordering gifts, checking emails and of Course, using online banking facilities. By way of an online bank account you never again need to wait in a queue to have a cashier assist you with your monetary transactions.

Almost all modern financial institutions now offer their customers the facility to use bank account online. An Online bank account provides customers provisions for money transfer between accounts, online bill payment and account balance enquiry. Customers can use online bank account by simply signing up at bank’s website through the links provided at it.

Many feel confident about human interaction when they walk out of bank with a deposit slip in hand. To All those folks who usually rely on the services of a bank teller it might appear a little overwhelming to imagine an online bank account.

However one can consider Online banking just as safe and sure as conventional banking. All your transactions are documented and you receive an authorization number for each bill payment made using online bank account.

The other major benefit of online bank account is to have direct Deposit facility. Through Direct deposit your pay check is directly credited into your bank account online on each payday. This implies visit to bank after work on payday can be saved. Simply log in to your bank account online to find the money waiting there. Nevertheless your employer will still provide a record of your pay and deductions but it alleviates the necessity of a physical bank visit.

An additional pleasant characteristic of having a bank account online is that you can easily set-up post-dated payments. If you are going on a holiday but don’t want to miss your credit card bill payment, you can set your account to electronically send payments to the credit card company on a specified date. This can be done for almost all payments, thus preventing you from missing a payment’s due date.

On top of everything, With an Online Bank Account you are not required to write cumbersome post-dated checks, put it in envelope, find a stamp and mail it before you go on your vacation. It is simply a far easier and less cumbersome method.

Having a bank account online is the next step in banking. The full proof security features allow you to do your everyday banking in confidence from the convenience of your home.

Banking Alternatives: Do you Need a Bank?

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Although using a bank is the most common method of storing and accessing your money, there are some alternatives you should consider. If you feel that your bank isn’t giving you what you want, then perhaps it is time for a change. Here are some banking alternatives that might be able to offer you the features and services that you require.

Why use a bank?

Of course, the main reason to use a bank is the fact that banks are widely available, and they are the first option that comes to mind when dealing with finances. In fact, some people aren’t even aware that there are alternatives to banking apart from keeping your money at home. Although banking has its uses, it can cost you money for day-to-day financial matters that you can get for less. Bank fees can be extremely expensive, but there are some alternatives.

Credit unions

Credit unions are one alternative to using conventional banks. Unlike banks, credit unions are not for profit organisations that are run by their members. Credit unions are used by people who share a workplace or occupation, or even a religion. They offer many of the same services as banks, but because profit is not their main function they can offer lower fees and higher interest rates on savings than normal banks. Credit unions can be fairly large and organisations, and some offer similar levels of convenience to a regular bank. If you are looking for cheaper fees and better interest rates on savings then a credit union might be right for you. However, credit unions are still small compared to banks, and you cannot simply join the credit union of your choice. You have to meet their specific requirements or be related to someone who is already a member in order to join. Also, you generally have to save money with a credit union before you can have access to other financial products.

Online banking

Perhaps the best alternative to traditional banking is online banking. There are many banks that operate solely online, and there are a lot of benefits to this sort of bank. Although you might not be able to get money as easily as you could with a normal bank, you can transfer funds and pay bills much more efficiently. Also, online banks usually operate all day every day, meaning that you can access your account and carry out transactions whenever you want. For paying bills and transferring money, you can’t really beat online banking

Combining accounts

Although there are viable alternatives to traditional banking, perhaps the best way to save yourself time and money is to have a combination of accounts. If you are eligible for a credit union, then saving with them is probably the best option as you can get great rates and you might be able to borrow money at a much more reasonable rate if you need to do so in the future. You could combine this with an online account to pay your bills, as this allows you to pay bills quickly and manage your money more effectively so that you always pay on time. Thirdly, having a traditional bank account is usually a good idea, because if any problems arise you can go to your bank and speak to someone face to face. If you look around at all the alternatives to regular banking then you could save yourself money and make banking work more effectively for you.

How to Get a Bank Account With Bad Credit History: the Truth

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I remember the first time I opened a bank account… WHAT A PAIN IN THE %$#! More on that later… Every time I think about it I thank myself I chose to study finance so I could know things about money people usually don’t know.

Anyways… getting back to our discussion. I remember I was 17 years old. I didn’t know much about banks or even the world, but I did know I wanted a bank account! I wanted to save enough money to buy myself a hot new car a 1987 Chevrolet Camaro.

I knew I would impress the girls with it, but I had to first find the money to pay for it. Not only that, but keep it safe from thieves and from myself also because I had and still have a habit of spending the money I had. So I went to the bank to open my little account. But I was rejected!

Rejected!!!

Yes, they said I wasn’t old enough, that I needed me parent’s permission, mumbo-jumbo crazy talk. A week later, after days of talking my father to let me, we both went to the bank and surprise, surprise…! Rejected again!

Apparently my father forgot to bring an important document or something I never did understand that. Anyhow, next week we paid the bank a visit and, for the third time, tried to open a bank account for me. And… yes you guessed it… rejected one more time!

I couldn’t believe it… I was right there! But I couldn’t open it. I wanted to get out of there as fast a I could but I had to wait for my father to finish something he had to do so I sat in the little couches they have. I was really starting to think about what was going on! When suddenly I saw a rich looking guy with his kid coming out of the manager’s office and the boy had the biggest smile on his face… obviously ha had just opened his fist bank account.

That made me think about something interesting.

Although the bank said they would treat everyone the same it was evident to me it wasn’t so. So after two weeks of hard work and asking my parent’s some money, I was able to go to the bank with $4,000 and viola! I was treated like a king!

What I’m trying to say here is that is not a matter on how to open a bank account with bad credit history. It’s the amount of money you have to open the account. The more you have the best they will treat you. Though… if you want a credit card… that’s a whole different story. In that case you will need good credit.

Worry not because there are countless ways to fix your bad credit so you can enjoy what life haves in store for you.

Finding the Right Bank for You

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Banks are often considered to be the best treasurers. Selecting a bank is a crucial decision and it should not be influenced or impulsive. There are a number of financial institutions offering multifarious fringe benefits to customers. Sometimes choosing the right bank becomes an overwhelming task. It does not matter what account you intend to open, you need to conduct a proper research on the options available, before deciding on a particular bank.

Your primary concern should revolve around the ability of the institution to meet your specific need. In addition to this, it is essential to determine the annual banking charges involved and the standard of service that a particular bank offers. It pays to call and take an appointment with a bank executive to get an idea of the standard of customer service provided by the bank.

Tips for selecting the right bank for you:

There are several tips on how to select the appropriate bank for you, one that would provide you with the best possible service and benefits. The basic tips are as follows:

Shop around

It is necessary to shop around for a bank that would offer the services you expect. It is beneficial to opt for a bank that is insured by the FDIC. The insurance is a guarantee of insurance up to $100,000.

Bank Fees

There are different fees attached to the various services offered by the bank. Banks try to make their profit from the funds generated via these fees. The fees that you need to enquire about are ATM fees, flat monthly fees, overdraft protection fees, fees charged on using ATMs that do not belong to your bank and commission charged if you stop payments on checks. In addition to this, some banks even charge a fee for writing checks, dropping below the minimum balance fees, canceled checks, monthly statements, inquiries on the bank balance and closing of your account.

Location

The location of the bank is very important. It is essential to have easy accessibility to the bank you choose, for conducting and monitoring your monetary transactions regularly. Sometimes, the banks charge extra fees for using an ATM machine that does not belong to them. It is very important to deal with a bank situated at a convenient distance from your residence, to ensure an effortless access to your money.

Online banking

Online banking has evolved as a major necessity for avid Internet users. It makes the banking transactions more convenient, as you could pay bills online, check your bank balance, transfer funds from one bank account to another and link onto other financial institutions from home.

Details of a bank account:

Most banks offer different types of checking and savings accounts. It is beneficial to opt for a bank that charges low or no fees to write a check, if you frequently transact that way. If you believe in saving, you need to search for a bank that offers a good rate of interest on the savings account.

You should conduct adequate research on the various pros and cons of selecting a particular bank.

Buying Government Foreclosures or Bank Foreclosures: Basics

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Foreclosed homes are regularly set on the market by the two major home lenders: government agencies and banks. Be they government foreclosures or bank foreclosures, what matters most is that they can be purchased at expenses lower than their real market value. This is why homebuyers or investors generally are in haste as soon as a reliable foreclosure opportunity is listed. After having investigated the real estate market and its potentialities, homebuyers must move quickly if they want to grasp this temporary chance. In what follows we will see some of the basics and advantages of opting either for government foreclosures or for bank foreclosures.

The most popular government agencies that frequently market foreclosure properties are as follows: 1) the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (you are probably already familiar with HUD foreclosed homes); 2) the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (for the well-known VA foreclosures); 3) local agencies of taxation; 4) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC – the department dealing with foreclosure sales); 5) the Internal Revenue Service (IRS – once again the segment dealing with foreclosures). However, the market of government foreclosures is led by HUD foreclosures and VA foreclosures.

In any case, the point is that with government foreclosures one of the above mentioned government agencies is holder of the property’s title. As a rule, they will place any foreclosed property at auction. The buyer’s advantages are basically drawn from bidding opportunities generated by auction circumstances: the potential buyer’s chance to set a limit for the house value, the certainty over the time interval spent to acquire a property, the possibility to evade prolonged negotiations with the former homeowner. As with any auction, government foreclosures are purchased if the bidder’s offer is appropriate. Also, your involvement in government foreclosures auctions needs to be mediated by a certified real estate agent who is regularly rewarded a 6% bonus for having successfully sold the property. The real estate agent’s indemnity is an additional figure to the sum you place as a bid.

To what concerns bank foreclosures, there are three major ways of purchasing such properties. One of them is in pre-foreclosures. In this case, you will need to act promptly, because there is actually very little time up until a property in a pre-foreclosed stage is transferred to foreclosure terms. So before properties actually become bank foreclosures, the active, smart homebuyer/investor – who has previously undergone a serious investigation of an area’s real estate market – will know to move in the direction of negotiating directly with the distressed homeowners. If pre-foreclosure attempts fail, the next step is an auction.

With bank foreclosures, the auction is required by the banks whose lends haven’t been acquitted on time. In such circumstances, the homebuyer/investor could try to overpass the bank’s bidding offers. Yes, the bank will also bid in such auctions, interested in stepping further along the process of profitably selling foreclosures. If the auction is won by the bank, the property becomes an REO (real estate owned) foreclosure property. This is the third way in which you could purchase bank foreclosures. When you are interested in REOs, you will negotiate directly with the bank. The main advantage of the potential homebuyer/home investor is that this is the most certain manner (and one of the fastest) of acquiring a foreclosed property. You will need to make an offer, but be careful: the offer should be commonsensical, don’t expect a bank to accept a discount of 50%, even if we are talking about foreclosures. Most often, you will get a 10%-20% lower price for an REO foreclosure.

In the end, the key toward purchasing foreclosures, no matter the entity selling them, is given by two stages: careful real estate market investigation and promptness in action when the time comes to place your offer. Remember that the market of foreclosures, no matter how advantageous, is highly competitive, since many homebuyers/investors are interested in it.

The Credit Card Issuer (the Bank) and Associated Costs

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Banks which offer credit card services have overall remained very profitable; however the risk is very high, because the credit card business is all about giving unsecured (uncollateralized) loans. The bank is dependant on the borrower not to default in large numbers. Banks incur several costs, some of which are given below:

1. Interest Expenses: Banks generally borrow the money from other forms at very low interest rates from other firms. They borrow the amount the customer requires, and lend this money to the customer at high interest rates. For example, if the card issuer charges 15% on money lent to customers, and it costs 5% to borrow the money to lend, and the balance sits with the cardholder for a year, the issuer earns 10% on the loan. This 5% difference is the “interest expense” and the 10% is the “net interest margin”. Normally, if the customer pays back the entire amount borrowed on credit within the first billing period, no interest is charged. This depends upon different bank policies.

2. Charge Offs: Some customers simply never pay their credit card bill. A considerable amount of money which banks loan on credit to customers will never be repaid, and this has been accounted to over 20% of the total. This is a loss to the bank, and they repay have to pay for the loans.

3. Rewards: The more a customer uses their credit card, the more rewards he gets, such as frequent flier rewards, gift certificates, and other incentives. However, the more the incentive given to the customer, the more the bank has to pay for these incentives. However, most rewards points are accrued as a liability on a company’s balance sheet and expensed at the time of reward redemption. Thus, the bank increases its cost associated with credit cards, and has to make sure a balance strike between customer satisfaction, and bank expenses.

4. Fraud: When a card is stolen, or an un-authorized duplicate made, the bank pays back the card holder (i.e. refunds money) for some or all of the things which the customer has been billed for, but did not buy. These refunds will be at the expense of the merchant, however are usually at the expense of the bank. Thus, any misuse of credit cards increases the expense of the bank. Statistics show that the cost of fraud is high, in 2004: it was over 500 million pounds in UK.

5. Operating Costs: There is of course the cost of running the credit card portfolio, i.e. the cost of printing the plastic, mailing statements and bills, the cost of using computers and maintaining information in order, as well as the marketing costs.

Thus it shows that maintaining a credit card system for the card issuers is expensive, and banks must be careful when they invest into this line of service. A careful balance must be struck between the costs, and the revenue generated from the credit card users.

So What is the Best Option: Hud Homes or Bank Owned Properties?

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Buying foreclosures still is a smart investment. You just have to be on a lookout for the best deal. You can choose the one that best suits your preferences from a wide offer including HUD homes, VA houses, foreclosure homes, distressed properties, bank owned properties and other real estate foreclosures.

Many people don’t know what to do when they have to choose between placing their money in HUD homes or in bank owned properties. HUD homes fall under the bigger category of government foreclosure homes, thus being government property, while in case of bank owned properties the title is self-explanatory and easier to understand.

Bank owned properties, also known as bank foreclosures, are real estate properties owned by a bank following a property foreclosing process. The foreclosure proceedings get started the moment when the owner has financial problems and is in default with mortgage payments. After taking ownership of the property, the bank would have all the arrangements done for an action in order to sell the property and recoup its losses. When considering buying bank owned properties, you should also know that there are three ways of achieving them: as pre-foreclosures, at the auction or as REOs (real estate owned) properties.

Purchasing bank owned properties is the most popular way to buy foreclosures, because it involves less complications and risks. Locating bank owned properties is easy. Look in the newspapers classifieds, call the banks or read the public notices at the county courthouse. These methods are all time-consuming though. The easiest way is to use a good online listing service, such as foreclosureconnections.com. Search through their extensive listings for the properties that meeting your investing criteria, price range, size and style. As an investor, you can buy bank owned properties at a 15-20% discount and earn 35-40% in return, thus making a tidy profit. As a home buyer, you are more keen on buying below marketed value with a low down payment, low interest rates and reduced closing costs. All these items can be negotiated with the bank as the lender. Most people are thrilled by the fact that there are no liens or judgments to contend with, no homeowners or tenants to evict, and no back taxes due. Moreover, accessing bank owned properties for evaluation and inspections is quite easy.

The bank is also involved when buying HUD homes. The American government, through HUD Department, encourages mortgage lending by guaranteeing mortgage payments on homes that meet certain standards. In case of owner’s default on this mortgage, HUD pays the balance on the loan and the ownership is transferred to HUD, thus becoming a HUD home or property. Then, the asset is sold at HUD homes public foreclosure auctions at a price lower than the market price. In case of HUD homes, the government does not provide financing support, so the buyer has to find alternative financing solutions through banks or other real estate financing organizations. Some of the advantages associated to buying HUD homes refer to low down payments and more flexible credit requirements. The buyers of HUD homes can ask HUD to forfeit some of the real estate commissions, financing and closing costs. Since most HUD foreclosures can be of low to moderate value, substantial repair works might be needed and HUD will lend the money to fix the property through a special program.

5 Legal Points Concerning Bank Fraud Crime

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Violations of law at a bank or by using accounts of a financial institution are commonly prosecuted in federal court as “bank fraud.”

The United States Attorney Office will seek an Indictment (a charging document formally charging the person with a crime) for bank fraud based upon a relatively non-complex theft or embezzlement of monies by a bank employee, or a more complex scheme to defraud based upon false statements, such as an overvaluation of property or securities. Also, the federal prosecutor office will seek an Indictment for bank fraud based upon a complex scheme to defraud, such as a scheme based upon a series of false loan applications and misuses of loaned monies or non-existent collateral.

The United States Code contains federal crimes that are prosecuted by the Department of Justice or its field offices, the United States Attorney Offices, in respective districts in the different states. Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, titled Bank Fraud, makes it a crime to defraud a bank or commit a scheme to defraud regarding the accounts of a financial institution. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1344 reads as follows:

BANK FRAUD
Whoever knowingly executes, or attempts to execute, a scheme or artifice
1) to defraud a financial institution; or
2) to obtain any of the moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by, or under the custody of or control of, a financial institution, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises; shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned for more than 30 years, or both.

FALSE STATEMENTS
The violation of making a false statement to a financial institution is also a commonly used criminal law used to prosecute people for making misrepresentations to fact to a bank. The crime of making a false statement is often utilized when federal prosecutors are investigating a person for bank fraud or violations concerning a financial institution. Under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014, it is a federal crime to make a false statement to a financial institution. 18 U.S. C. 1014 reads as follows (in summary):

False Statements to a Financial Institution
Whoever knowingly
1) Makes a false statement, or overvalues any property
2) For the purpose of influencing an anyway
3) The action of a financial institution
shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned for more than 30 years, or both.

What Are Bank Secured Credit Cards?

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Bank Secured Credit Cards

Even though there are many types of credit cards out there for consumers, there are few for those with bad credit. Those who are looking to repair their credit have a few options available, one of which is the bank secured credit card. This credit card can help you to repair your credit, as it works in conjunction with your savings or checking account.

Bank secured credit cards look and work just like traditional credit cards, although they use your bank account as collateral. Anytime you aren’t able to pay your credit card bill at the due date, the bank will take the money out of your account. This way, there is always money there for the bank, in the event that you are unable to make your payment.

Bank secured credit cards are also ideal for those who have a bankruptcy or simply don’t qualify for a line of credit due to bad credit or no credit history. These credit cards show your bank that you are able to pay your monthly dues, and that you are taking the necessary steps in rebuilding or building your credit. Over time, if you remain responsible and pay your bill on time, your bank may give you an unsecured line of credit - known as a standard credit card with no collateral.

Due to the fact that bank secured credit cards only allow you to spend what have in your account, you don’t need to worry about debt. When you can’t make a payment, the bank simply takes the money out of your account. Although this is a great back up plan, you should always pay your bill and never let this happen.

Just like other credit cards, bank secured credit cards do have disadvantages that can hit you like a ton of bricks should you use the card irresponsibly. Anytime you don’t pay your bill on time, the bank can hit you with high interest charges and late charges. These charges and fees can get higher and higher if you don’t start paying your bill, which can eventually cause you to drain your account that you set aside. If you pay your bill on time though, you won’t have to worry about being hit with these types of charges.

For those who have bad credit or need to start building credit, a bank secured credit card is a great place to start. These cards can lead you to an unsecured credit card, providing you pay your bill on time. Almost all banks offer these credit cards, all you have to do is ask. Once you have kept your credit card in good standing for a period of time - you’ll have the satisfaction in knowing that you are taking the right steps in rebuilding your credit.

You can find the best choice of credit cards and pre-paid cards at www.CreditCards.us (http://www.creditcards.us)

How to Select and Open an Offshore Bank Account

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Contrary to what most offshore service providers will tell you, opening an offshore bank account is not the path to instant wealth and riches, although it might get you there a little quicker. In this article I will attempt to set out the advantages and disadvantages of opening and maintaining an offshore banking facility and how you can use this vehicle to enhance and protect your personal wealth.

Initiallly, you will need to sit down and determine exactly why you require an offshore banking facility. Many people are attracted by the lure of having a secret offshore numbered account or merely want to have an impressive facility to pander to their own ego’s. If you fit into the above criteria I sincerely suggest that you seek your gratification elsewhere as you will be eventually left with an empty pocket and account.

Generally, most people seek to hide or protect their assets through the use off an offshore account or they may simply be using it to not repatriate profits back to their home country. These are all valid applications and when structured correctly can maintain a veil of secrecy over your banking operations. It is advisable that whichever need your offshore presence fulfills that you determine if the cost of maintaining an account is offset by your need.

As a prospective account holder you need to clearly understand that opening and maintaining an account is neither cheap nor easy. The fees will vary from bank to bank but generally speaking you will find the relative fees to be more exhorbitant than your home jurisdiction. Try not to be deterred by any difference between bank’s fees as in the offshore market you really do get what you pay for and if you have followed my prior advice and quantified a strategy then the long term cost will be minimal.

Finding and Selecting an Offshore Bank

The search for an appropriate offshore facility can be long winded and confusing without a little assistance.There are many different types of banking institutions but for the purposes of this article we shall only consider the retail offshore bank. Retail offshore banks are generally those that cater to smaller accounts for individuals rather than corporations and this is the perfect vehicle for your first account.

When selecting a bank you first need to consider which jurisdiction(country) is most appropriate for your needs. Firstly, you will need to determine if your country of residence has any information sharing treaties with a prospective jurisdiction. As you can imagine, the last thing you need is your bank of choice giving up all your account details and transactions to your home countries Tax Department. You can generally obtain information on the tax treaties and relevant country details by accessing various expat websites and viewing the country profiles.

After finding a suitable jurisdiction, you can start looking at individual banks and what they require and offer to new account holders. I would initially caution you to stay away from any small boutique style banks as it can be difficult to know if the bank you are signing up with actually exists. Without significant research a legitimate looking bank website can actually turn out to be fraudulent. Start by looking at major of known banking names in that country. Most offshore banks maintain a web presence and the use of the internet can speed up the process of finding a bank. Any legitimate bank will provide a verifiable address and client contact phone number, any sites that do not maintain valid contact details are most assuredly fraudulent.

Once you have viewed and selected some suitable institutions then take the time to either email or ring them and ask the following questions:

* What are their ID Requirements
* What is the minimum opening balance
* Do they provide Internet Banking
* Do they require professional references (bank references etc)
* Ask for a schedule of Fees

The above minimum will give you a good feel for whether the bank is honest and legitimate. Any institution which does NOT require identification to open an account will most defanitely be a scam. Generally, they will require you to provide a notarized copy of your passport and proof of a current address, for instance a utility bill. Some banks may require a reference letter from a lawyer,accountant, or current bank who are familiar with your affairs. The minimum account balance will vary from bank to bank and can range from a meagre $500 USD up to $50,0000. Again this is something that will need to be researched to fit your individual need.

TIP: Always choose a bank with good internet and phone banking, you cant just walk into a branch when you need to.

After submitting an application to your choosen bank along with your identification and proof of address you should be set up and working within two weeks. It is paramount that if you are to maintain your account secrecy that you do not advise nor tell anyone of the account. It is also advisable that you do not receive the bank statements at your home as a few errant statements laying around is the smoking gun that the IRS needs to nail you. This is where internet banking is paramount and its really advisable to only receive your account statements online.

You will find that ultimately offshore banks are extremely easy to deal with and provide an excellent range of privacy related services. Which bank or jurisdiction you choose is ultimately governed by your personal needs and risk assessment. I hope that this article has been a good primer on what is required to step into the offshore banking world.

Some Sample Offshore Banks

Berner Kantonal Bank - Switzerland
ANZ Vanuatu
HSBC Offshore - Hong Kong
Loyal Bank - St Lucia
Reitumu - Latvia
Parax - Lativa
Wall Street Banking Corp - Cook Islands