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Jumat, 14 November 2008

President assured national banking still safe

Tokyo (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a stopover in Tokyo en route to Washington DC on Friday received a report from Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Boediono that the national banking sector was still in a safe condition.

Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa told reporters covering the president's overseas trip that Yudhoyono had had a long-distance conversation with Boediono in Jakarta on the latest developments in the national banking sector following the failure of PT Bank Century Tbk to settle interbank transactions.

"The President received information from the Bank Indonesia governor on the current banking situation which has remained good," Minister Rajasa said.

Wherever he was, the president always communicated with the vice president, cabinet ministers and other high ranking state officials in Jakarta, Rajasa said.

BI, Indonesia's central bank, said in a statement on Thursday PT Bank Century Tbk was having problems in making interbank payments due to technical problems but the case was no threat to the country's banking system.

The central bank said that the problem at Bank Century was expected to be resolved by Friday.

President Yudhoyono left for the United States on Thursday to attend a weekend meeting of Group of 20 (G-20) leaders in Washington DC on November 15.

Yudhoyono's visit to Washington would be part of a 13-day tour of four countries, namely the Un1ted States, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru November 13-26, 2008.

In Mexico and Brazil, Yudhoyono would hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of the two countries while in Peru, he would attend the 16th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.

On Saturday, November 15, President Yudhoyono and other heads of state/government of G-20 countries would meet to discuss overhauling the international financial system in response to the credit crisis and the threat of a global recession. adapted from http://www.antara.co.id

Kamis, 13 November 2008

Banking Tips

By Aila Sanchez

It is important to be a wise customer to ensure that you are not losing money, and preferably earning more, with each bank transaction. Cyberspace has a lot of information on how to do this properly. In fact, this site will provide you with tips not just for conducting transactions online but also saving money in general.

No matter how many tips you get, you have to bear in mind the most essential things when it comes to choosing the bank with which to sign up for an account. Here are some of them:

1. Make sure that the online bank is legitimate. The Internet provides an opportunity for banks to offer services more efficiently and to customers to make transactions more conveniently. It also gives an opportunity for swindlers to victimize clueless clients, whose only goal is to create an account online. Don't let yourself be one of them. Trust an online bank that has already established a name and is authorized or endorsed by the right institutions. If you have any slight doubt that the website you are on is fraudulent, close your browser immediately.

2. Choose the bank with which your deposits are insured. You don't want your money to vanish if your bank fails or goes bankrupt. Deposit insurance will give you a guarantee that you will get your money back, and sometimes, with accrued interest.

3. Keep your information private. Some people claim that online banking is safer than brick-and-mortar banking because no one else can have access to your account. This is only true if you don't share private information, especially your passwords, PIN numbers and other information. Never reply to e-mails with your login details. Remember that the only way you can access your account is to visit the official website.

4. Ask. As a customer, you have a right to know everything about your account, a transaction or any service that the bank offers. If there is something you don't understand, especially about fees, charges and rates, do not hesitate to call one of their representatives to inquire.

There are countless Internet banks that mushroom left and right and you have to be armed with the right information regarding what they offer and how to deal with them. It is not enough that you conduct transactions conveniently and comfortably. What is more important is to make sure that each transaction is secure, protected and if possible, profitable.

Want to read more of this article? You can read more tips on Banking Tips, plus other Online Banking Tips only at http://onlinebankpro.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aila_Sanchez

Senin, 03 November 2008

Smart banking tips

From Money Magazine, March 2005

Good deals out there

Credit card providers, every-day e-accounts and even home loans are increasingly offering discount deals and cash-back offers to win customers.

As Effie Zahos reports in the March issue of Money magazine, perhaps the most ground-breaking product in recent times is the salary transaction home loan. It works on the principle that interest is calculated daily, so the more you throw in on day one, the more you can save.

It's linked to a credit card. Borrowers are encouraged to deposit all of their salary into the loan, live off their credit card during the interest-free period and withdraw living expenses once a month.

If followed correctly, at 7% a homeowner with a $160,000 25-year mortgage who has a monthly salary of $3100 and spends around $2000 a month can expect to save one year and three months off their term and over $14,000 in interest payments.

Tiered interest rates

Another favourite boost for your financial bottom line can be found in credit cards that offer tiered interest rates. This can be handy if you know you are going to need more then, say, 55 days to pay off a large purchase.

The Commonwealth Bank, for instance, allows some purchases over $1000 to be paid off at a heavily discounted rate of just 0.99%. The rate applies for three months and there's no interest-free period during that time. Then it's back to the regular interest rate of 15% to 17.65%.

Citibank has a credit card that matches interest rates to spending.

Cash-back credit cards

There's only one so far — National Bank's Visa Mini card — but more are sure to follow if the US example is anything to go by. With National, if you spend $1000 a month on your card, you receive $120 cash back each year. You must repay your charges in full each month. If you apply before May 31, the annual fee of $19 will be waived.

Trendy card users may like the fact that the card, nearly half the size of a standard credit card, comes in five different colours, has a phone hook and a cover.

Cash-back home loans

Non-conforming lender Pepper Homeloans recently launched what's probably the only home loan that hands you cash in return for your loyalty. Other lenders offer discounts or rewards but Pepper is the only one that will actually pay you for banking with them.

Every three years and subject to satisfactory payment history, you get a cash-back of one percent of the outstanding loan balance. The rebate is credited to your savings account, not the home loan.

With all these deals, you need to check all the rules and potential costs before you decide they're for you.

For the complete story see Money Magazine's March 2005 issue. Subscribe now

Minggu, 02 November 2008

Nature of the Industry

Banks safeguard money and valuables and provide loans, credit, and payment services, such as checking accounts, money orders, and cashier’s checks. Banks also may offer investment and insurance products, which they were once prohibited from selling. As a variety of models for cooperation and integration among finance industries have emerged, some of the traditional distinctions between banks, insurance companies, and securities firms have diminished. In spite of these changes, banks continue to maintain and perform their primary role—accepting deposits and lending funds from these deposits.

Goods and services. Banking is comprised of two parts: Monetary Authorities—Central Bank, and Credit Intermediation and Related Activities. The former includes the bank establishments of the U.S. Federal Reserve System that manage the Nation’s money supply and international reserves, hold reserve deposits of other domestic banks and the central banks of other countries, and issue the currency we use. The establishments in the credit intermediation and related services industry provide banking services to the general public. They securely save the money of depositors, provide checking services, and lend the funds raised from depositors to consumers and businesses for mortgages, investment loans, and lines of credit.

Industry organization. There are several types of banks, which differ in the number of services they provide and the clientele they serve. Although some of the differences between these types of banks have lessened as they have begun to expand the range of products and services they offer, there are still key distinguishing traits. Commercial banks, which dominate this industry, offer a full range of services for individuals, businesses, and governments. These banks come in a wide range of sizes, from large global banks to regional and community banks. Global banks are involved in international lending and foreign currency trading, in addition to the more typical banking services. Regional banks have numerous branches and automated teller machine (ATM) locations throughout a multi-state area that provide banking services to individuals. Banks have become more oriented toward marketing and sales. As a result, employees need to know about all types of products and services offered by banks. Community banks are based locally and offer more personal attention, which many individuals and small businesses prefer. In recent years, online banks—which provide all services entirely over the Internet—have entered the market, with some success. However, many traditional banks have also expanded to offer online banking, and some formerly Internet-only banks are opting to open branches.

Savings banks and savings and loan associations, sometimes called thrift institutions, are the second largest group of depository institutions. They were first established as community-based institutions to finance mortgages for people to buy homes and still cater mostly to the savings and lending needs of individuals.

Credit unions are another kind of depository institution. Most credit unions are formed by people with a common bond, such as those who work for the same company or belong to the same labor union or church. Members pool their savings and, when they need money, they may borrow from the credit union, often at a lower interest rate than that demanded by other financial institutions.

Federal Reserve banks are Government agencies that perform many financial services for the Government. Their chief responsibilities are to regulate the banking industry and to help implement our Nation’s monetary policy so our economy can run more efficiently by controlling the Nation’s money supply—the total quantity of money in the country, including cash and bank deposits. For example, during slower periods of economic activity, the Federal Reserve may purchase government securities from commercial banks, giving them more money to lend, thus expanding the economy. Federal Reserve banks also perform a variety of services for other banks. For example, they may make emergency loans to banks that are short of cash, and clear checks that are drawn and paid out by different banks.

Interest on loans is the principal source of revenue for most banks, making their various lending departments critical to their success. The commercial lending department loans money to companies to start or expand their business or to purchase inventory and capital equipment. The consumer lending department handles student loans, credit cards, and loans for home improvements, debt consolidation, and automobile purchases. Finally, the mortgage lending department loans money to individuals and businesses to purchase real estate.

The money banks lend comes primarily from deposits in checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and other deposit accounts that consumers and businesses set up with the bank. These deposits often earn interest for their owners, and accounts that offer checking provide owners with an easy method for making payments safely without using cash. Deposits in many banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which guarantees that depositors will get their money back, up to a stated limit, if a bank should fail.

Recent developments. Technology is having a major impact on the banking industry. Direct deposit allows companies and governments to electronically transfer payments into various accounts. Debit cards, which may also be used as ATM cards, instantaneously deduct money from an account when the card is swiped across a machine at a store’s cash register. Electronic banking by phone or computer allows customers to access information such as account balances and statement history, pay bills, and transfer money from one account to another. Some banks also have begun offering online account aggregation, which makes available in one place detailed and up-to date information on a customer’s accounts held at various institutions.

Advancements in technology have also led to improvements in the ways in which banks process information. The use of check imaging allows banks to store photographed checks on the computer instead of paper files. Also, the availability and growing use of credit scoring software allows lending departments to approve loans in minutes, rather than days.

Other fundamental changes are occurring in the industry as banks diversify their services to become more competitive. Many banks now offer their customers financial planning and asset management services, as well as brokerage and insurance services, often through a subsidiary or third party. Others are beginning to provide investment banking services—usually through a subsidiary—that help companies and governments raise money through the issuance of stocks and bonds. As banks respond to deregulation and as competition in this sector grows, the nature of the banking industry will continue to undergo significant change. From http://www.bls.gov