The first order of business is to gather a group of at least five people to organize the internet banking company. These people will be on the board of directors, and one of them should be the CEO of the bank. The five or more people will be intensely involved together to form working procedures of the bank.
After the group is brought together, they must choose a name for their internet banking company. They have to be very picky when it comes to their name. They will want the name to be easy to remember. It should be catchy and have a nice ring to it.
Another consideration with the name is making it original. Getting a name that can also be used as a domain name is preferable. Also, the name must pass strict guidelines as to its similarity to other banks and internet banking institutions if it is too similar, the bank founders will not be able to obtain a trademark for it.
To get a name trademarked, they simply have to go to the US Patent and Trademark Office. There is just one form to fill out. They submit it with a fee and wait for approval. Sometimes, they have to make a case for their trademarked name. This is done through emails. If all goes well, the internet banking name will soon be theirs.
The group of investors can now go to web-hosting services and set up a website that can be accessed publicly. To make the website, professionals are needed. The website is, as far as the consumer is concerned, the heart of the internet banking business.
The professional website designer should design an internet banking site with the highest level of security. This includes such features as 128-bit encryption, secure socket layering, and adequate firewalls.
For the consumer's preference in use, there are other considerations in making an internet banking website as well. It should be eye-catching to bring in the most customers. It should also be easy to get around the website. Another consideration is copyright infringement. It must be ascertained that nothing is directly copied onto the website.
The group now forms its charter. It must apply for an internet banking charter through the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC). This is a lengthy process and involves a huge amount of paperwork and information.
Another way is to take over stock in an existing bank and put in a change of charter with the OCC. In any case, the OCC will give the board of directors advice on how to best submit their application for the charter of their internet banking operation.
The OCC evaluates all the information the internet banking partners have put together about their financial situation and their proposed banking policies. Then, if the OCC grants a charter, the bank is ready to open its virtual doors.
Start by going to the bank's website. There, you can get the information the bank gives you about their banking credentials. The bank's official name should be listed. There may be articles describing the history of the bank, including their internet banking history.
There should be an address where the headquarters can be found. There will be a base of operations somewhere, even if it is a virtual bank internet banking operation. If they are on the up-and-up, they will not be hesitant to tell you about their FDIC coverage.
It is easy to check a bank's FDIC insurance. If you see the words "FDIC Insured" or "Member FDIC" or the FDIC logo, you might be on the right track. However, it is wise to go a step further. Go to the source to find out if the internet banking company is really affiliated with the federal insurer.
The FDIC has its own data base that includes all of the banking institutions, including internet banking companies that are covered by FDIC insurance. Just go to their "Bank Find" site to find out if your bank is one of them. You can start your search with the name of the bank or its address.
If your internet banking company is on that list, the FDIC will provide you with a whole list of helpful information. You will learn when the bank became insured, and the number on its insurance certificate. You will find out the location(s) of your bank and its official name. You will find out what government entity regulates that bank.
If your internet banking company does not appear on the list, it is time to go directly to the FDIC. They will be concerned with the legitimacy and safety of that bank. It is probably not wise to put your money in an uninsured bank. At that point, it is better to look for another internet banking operation.
Once you do sign up with an online bank, be cautious about how you use their internet banking website. Some unscrupulous people will use the internet to get your banking information. They will do this when you log onto your bank's website.
The trick these dishonest people use is to set up a website that looks like your bank's website. They have a URL that is very similar to your bank's URL. Then, they sit back and wait for you or others to make a mistake typing in your bank's URL that will get you to them.
From there, the fraudster will track all the information you type into the opening page. They will be able to get your user name, your password, and any other information you type. The best way to make sure you are dealing with your legitimate bank is by being very careful when typing in their site address.
If you are to trust your internet banking company, you must take precautions to assure yourself that it is a respectable business. Once you do that, you can bank with ease.