The best way to check your bank balance online is through an online banking service, if this is provided by your bank.
Most - if not all - banks offer online banking these days, and it's a great way to view your balance and transactions without having to leave the house. You can also make payments, set up direct debits and apply for loans and saving accounts using this same service.
- Online banking was first made available for use in the early 1980s, but was reserved for businesses. Online banking in those times allowed businesses to check their account balance at home and send money to other accounts.
- During the 1990s it became clear that the internet was becoming the go-to source for information, and banks used this to their advantage. However, the customer was not able to check account balances in the early days, and banks simply used the internet as a way to provide branch information and advertise their services.
- In 1995, Wells Fargo became the first bank to offer online banking to its customers.
- By 1999, less than 1% of all US citizens made use of online banking features, but this number has grown exponentially over the years, and it's now closer to 50%.
