Online banking

Online banking means using bank services on the Internet. Using financial and insurance services online requires that the transmitted data is carefully protected and that it is possible to verify the identity of the service user.

Protection means in practice that online banks use secure connections. A secure connection can be recognised by looking at the address bar of the browser. Instead of the usual http://, the address begins with https:// where the 's' stands for 'secure'. Another sing of a secure connection is a locked padlock icon in the address bar of the browser. Always look for the two signs when you are on a website where you enter payment information.

Verification, on the other hand, means that service users can sing in to the Internet bank with their personal usernames and passwords. To ensure security, banks have different policies for handling payments and other bank transactions.

If you use online bank services on a public computer, it is advisable to clear the cache memory of the browser. Do not save any information on public computers. If you, for some reason, need to save something on a public computer, delete the information after the use. Make sure that usernames and passwords are not saved on the computer, for example, by the browser. If you are unsure about how to clear information saved by the browser, ask e.g. the librarian to take care of the above-mentioned measures. After using the services, make sure the connection is closed. Otherwise the next user may be able to access your information.

Finnish banks never send e-mail messages requesting the user to send online banking passwords, credit card numbers or other secret information. Do not reply to any messages in which someone asks your username or passwords.

Verification used in online banks is considered a reliable and safe way to identify the customer. The Act on Electronic Signatures enables using these contractual identifications of banks as valid electronic signatures.

For example, tax authorities, insurance companies, Statistics Finland and Finnish Customs accept information and notifications on the Internet by verifying the customer's identity using online banking passwords.

Site updated 18.11.2008