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One, it's a pain in the ass to go to the bank every time you want a fresh number.

Two, there are only so many numbers available in the 16-digit LUHN-verified pool currently in existence. There are even further restrictions:

• Based on the first digit:
  • 2=Vendor
  • 3=Amex [Discover too?]
  • 4=Visa
  • 5=MC
  • 6=Store/Other [Discover too?]
• Based on the first 4 or 6 digits, ie:
  • 4510=Royal Bank Visa
  • 4512=Royal Bank Gold/Platinum Visa
  • 4512 12xx=Royal Bank Gold/Platinum Visa from Central Card Center area
  • etc...
• 4480=Security First Network Bank

Three, it's more trouble than it's worth, considering you are only legally responsible for the first $50 of unauthorized charges to your card, and most banks won't even hold you to that. I've had merchants double-bill me (and once some totally unauthorized charge from Denmark showed up), and Royal Bank instantly credited my account for the full amount and mailed me a form to sign and return stating that the charge in question was unauthorized. In every instance, the whole process took less than 5 minutes of my time and was totally painless.

Essentially, the banks themselves are the only ones left holding the bag when fraudulent use occurs. As a result, they either hold the money back from the merchant's future payments or write it off. Joe Consumer (you and I) aren't liable for it, and generally aren't affected by it. Worst case, if the abuse on your particular card keeps up, they might cancel your card and send you a new one with a different number. Big deal.

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They actually bought out Security First Network Bank some time ago, whose software they use. I've been using SFNB's web banking for years and I really like it - 20 free electronic bill payments per month (uses CheckFree), interest bearing checking account, and a simple but very functional web site that should work on any browser.

I was with Security First since the early days and its still IMHO one of the best Internet banks out there in terms of functionality and costs. I know its now owned by the Royal Bank of Canada so Canadians can use it too.

http://www.sfnb.com/

I'm now with CitiBank in the UK... very basic capabilities but it works (mostly). First-E (www.first-e.com) looks geek friendly (Java, PHP, etc.) but the security paranoia and the non-standard debit card aren't worth it.

Security First Network Bank works fine for me and I disable Java and Javascript. Images are only partially necessary; they have an image map toolbar once you log in. My two gripes have to do with their unnecessary 6 month password aging scheme and lack of progress feedback on snail mail deposits. But they are good otherwise. Get cash from gracery stores, because ATMs cost money after the first 5 (?) per month. Deposits have to be automatic deoposit or snail mail.

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howdy

I've been using www.sfnb.com for a year or so with netscape (various versions) on Linux with nary a problem. I was nervous at first, not being able to walk into a branch, but the service has been flawless for me, unlike my local bank, Bank of America, who lost a deposit and took 2 months to credit it back even though i was waving a receipt in their faces. Check 'em out.

Well, Royal Canadian Bank bought "SFNB", ("Security First Network Bank"), which IS a US bank, and which offers a pretty good online system. They'll do the bill payment online, although you have to log in and type in the amount of the bill for bills that change monthly... you can't arrange for the bills to be sent to them. However, the service is FREE, and in fact they are paying a loss-leader 6% on their checking account right now, so it's practically less than free! Sorry if I sound overly promotional -- it's not really this particular online bank that I like so much, it's the whole process of online banking and bill payment... it's a really great way to work.

They don't do online bill presentation (ie, the bill goes there) but paying bills is simply as filling in the amount and clicking PAY. I have a credit card through them too, so I can schedule an amount to transfer on the exact day it's due and have it credited that day.

Customer service is the best. I can deal with them totally through on-line forms and e-mail or call them if I have to.

I've never had a problem with bill paying. If someone I pay a bill won't take an electronic transfer, they will laser print a check and mail it to the person/firm FOR FREE. I don't even pay for the bloody stamp.

You also get regular checks to use the old fashioned way if you want to. The checking accounts are free and include about 20 e-pays a month if you get direct deposit to it or maintain some balance in there.

Overall, I am HIGHLY satisfied with them.

I use Security First Network Bank and it works pretty well. It's a complete bank, replacing the brick and mortar variant for me. See below for the only drawback I see with this approach.

I chose this bank over the brick and mortars about 3 years ago, because the brick and mortars use custom software, which not only does not work under Linux, but also has to be installed on a computer. SFNB works from any web browser. Perhaps things have changed since then.

There's a button on their site for "Pay Bills". It brings up a table of payees you have set up. You fill in the amount for the ones you want to pay, and change the pay date if you want, or leave it at the default earliest possible Then click SUBMIT and it sets up the transactions. I find it incredibly easy compared to writing checks, adding stamps, and mailing the payments.

Setting up a new payee is a minor nuisance. They need name, address, phone number, and account id. From then on it's very easy to deal with. You can set up regular payments, with various intervals (weekly, monthly, semi-monthly, etc). I collect my credit card, utility, etc bills once every week or two and do them all at once.

They supply an ATM card. No extra charge at grocery stores, most gas stations, etc. Brick and mortar banks will nick you for actually using their ATMs, so I just get cash back from the grocery stores.

I dump the "register" of transactions periodically in case they try to do something incredibly stupid such as change things. You can annotate transactions. They include GIFs of the front and back (I think both :-) of actual checks you have written.

The only drawback in this case is having to mail in deposits; it can be a couple of weeks before you see the funds :-( Worst of all, they could easily send email when the check is received and when it clears, but they don't; you have to check your account periodically to find out. I left the stamp and return address off one check I mailed in, and it took a month before I was convinced it hadn't arrived (took the PO 2 mohths to send it back). Had to stop the old check, get a new check, etc.

I don't like their password policy; it has to be changed every few months, and if you forget the new one, you have to call them up and they snail mail a new password, so there go several days at least with no access. I have tried sending email about how this does not improve security. If someone wants to clean out my account, changing the password twice a year won't do squat to prevent it. It will only stop someone taking small amounts once in a while, and then only when the password changes. In that case, it's my own fault for not monitoring my account. But they persist.

And even more minor, the data entry field checking is very anal about the exact format of phone numbers and such.

But I will keep the account, as it makes most transactions much easier, and I don't deposit a lot of checks, and don't live paycheck to paycheck anyway. And electronic deposit of paychecks happens overnight anyway.

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I've been using SFNB (Security First Network Bank) as my one and only bank for almost two years now. They have all-online everything -- I can pay my bills there (and if they can't electronically transfer the money they cut a check and mail it at their expense). When I write a check, I don't get stubs back in the mail -- I can look at JPEG images of the cleared checks. I get up-to-the-second balance information and everything is FREE -- as in no monthly fee for anything.

Add onto this great customer support (call or email) and I've never been more satisfied with a bank.

I use Schwab for handling investments. You might think it'd be annoying to have my money split up like that, but actually I hardly notice. Transferring money from one institution to another is just as easy as transferring between accounts within a single place. I have, on a couple occasions, found it useful to have local branch offices. Their online support is also excellent. I always get prompt replies to email, and more importantly, they even answer my questions (whereas most email support teams just send me the most appropriate irrelevant form letter).

One site I've seen that reviews banks/brokers (along with user comments) is Gomez Advisors.

They rated my bank (SFNB) as one of the better banks overall, and I've really been happy with them so far.

I don't know about one-stop banking, but we've been very happy with Security First - they have a 6% checking account, and pay your bills free (using CheckFree). If you're looking for stock or mutual funds though just about any of the big guys seems to have a significant web presence now.

I know that they also have credit card accounts, but I don't use their credit card. Some time ago, they were setting up brokerage accounts, but I don't have one nor am I interested in one, so I don't know if it's the case anymore.

Hope this helps!

NOTE: I don't represent SFNB at all. I'm just a very satisfied customer.

I have a checking account at Security First Network Bank, and it's really nice being able to access my account from any browser any time. The only "feature" I don't like is that physical deposits have to go in by snail mail, and there is no email announcing when they get it, or when it clears, so you have to check periodically. But electronic deposit works fine, and they have an ATM card which has no charges at grocery stores, gas stations, etc.

I tried other banks which claim to have online banking, but they require their custom software, Lose95/Mac only of course. I wouldn't dream of being tied down to my home computer any more.

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