| For someone trying to open a free checking account, | | | | currently doing business on the Web as virtual banks. |
| there may be a few things to consider. This has | | | | Men and women accustomed to banking transactions, |
| continually raised eyebrows among the Web-surfing | | | | including those who are addicted to freebies, respond |
| public and has generated a typical question, "How do | | | | by adding an item in their wish list: "If only I can open a |
| these people earn if all they do is give everything | | | | free checking account", or something along that line. |
| away for free?" | | | | And guess what? A genie must have picked up the |
| Not that the public was complaining. Web surfers liked, | | | | wish and fed it to bankers' minds. One by one, online |
| and continue to like, freebies given out on the Web. It's | | | | banks are posting on their home pages messages that |
| just that many did not know if there was a catch | | | | have a common theme, "Open a free checking |
| behind all those free stuff. In the meantime, the surfing | | | | account - Click here for more information". |
| public had become addicted to everything free; some | | | | For example, Wachovia (a Wells Fargo brainchild), |
| of them even instantly reject offerings that have a | | | | says on its home page, "Free checking account. Apply |
| price tag (well, except $0.00!). | | | | now... 1 + 1 + 1 = Free. Free Checking. Free Online |
| Today online banking has become an industry of its | | | | Banking..." Now there it is. The public can definitely open |
| own. Traditional banks have created websites and are | | | | a free account. But the question is... how does each |
| competing with one another in offering online banking | | | | individual define the word "free"? Or what is one |
| services. Some enterprising minds have even | | | | person's concept of a free account? Is it an account |
| concocted the idea of "Internet only" banks and are | | | | that is totally without cost? |