Paying all of your bills online is a relatively new convenience that can make your life significantly easier, but it can be intimidating if you’ve grown accustomed to paying bills by mail or over the phone. Once you get past the learning curve, though, it will be the easiest part of your day. Most banks offer a simple online bill pay service nowadays, and here are eight reasons you should make the switch for your next billing period.
- Convenience
Instead of having to take 20-30 minutes out of your day to pay by phone or go to the post office, you can pay your bills in a matter of minutes online. You can pay at work, home, or in line at the doctor’s office—whenever you remember. - Ease
Banks have made online bill pay a very simple process so people of all levels of technological aptitude can use it. You simply log into your account, take a look at your transactions, and if they’re all accurate, click “pay,” and you’re finished. - Security
Sending checks and other information by mail is not a very secure option, as the majority of identity theft is the result of mail theft. Online bill pay employs the latest technology to keep your information secure, so that is one less thing you have to worry about. - Frugality
It may not seem like buying a stamp for every mail-in bill payment is that much money, but it can add up after a while, especially if you’re in a pinch. With online bill pay, there are no stamps required, so you no longer have to pay to pay your bills. - Rewards
When paying your bills, you usually have the option of paying with a credit card, so if you have a credit card with rewards, putting your bills on that card can reap some serious cash back, airline miles, or other perks. - Environmental Impact
With online bill pay usually comes e-billing, which completely eliminates a lot of wasted paper. Even though this is a small step, you can feel better about reducing your footprint on the environment by paying online. - Organization
Online banking and online bill pay give you instant access to all of your accounts and bills, so you can easily manage your money and stay organized. That means no more balancing the checkbook! - Automation
If you find that you frequently forget to pay your bills on time, with online bill pay, you have the option of setting up automatic payments with your bank. As long as you have the money in your account, you’ll never have to worry about late fees again.
