Does anyone here have an account with an internet only bank?

I've sen some around such as ING Direct and Egg, but I think I would sort of miss the ability to just turn up at a high street branch and make deposits, take money out, and ask questions as I needed to.

Hello! I have had an account with ING Direct for about four years now. It is true that you can't get your money out instantly, but the idea with the savings account is to save your money. It is attached to a 'real world' checking account, and if you want to make a withdrawl, the money gets to your checking account in about 3 business days. I love my ING account. You can set up an automatic savings plan that will take a certain amount of money out of your checking account on a regular basis. The interest percent is outstanding too -- it just went up to 4.15% -- and you get that on ANY amount of money. There are no minimum amounts.

I highly recommend it.

I nearly went with ING before, but am about to use HSBC - if you're looking to save a substantial amount it's worth checking what perks your high street bank can offer in return. At present I decided to remain with HSBC, and am now set up for a preferential rate on my first mortgage, plus free travel insurance and little things like that.

Otherwise, I was literally about to go with ING Direct - had the cheque written and in an envelope and ready to post.

Oh, it is true that you get no special perks for combined accounts or anything with ING and you should check around. I think ING is a very good thing for people who do not have much to save. Around here, you cannot get interest on very small amounts in most savings banks.

We are getting ready to transfer a good chunk of our savings into ING. The interest rate can't be beat, and they are still federally insured, so our money is safe (at least the amount we'll be putting in!). Since the money just sits there anyway, we're looking forward to earning a slightly better return on it!

Over 4%? Wow! I thought CD's were the only way to get that kind of interest rate. Does anyone know how much I need to get started? Or for that matter, how to you open an account when there is no physical location to go to?

Be always wary of banks that are found only on the internet. If you can find some banks that have both offline and online accounts then I think, that's a better choice. There are too much scams going on at the internet today.

I would have a problem with not having a bricks and mortoar bank to go into at all. I do the majority of my banking online, but I still like having the option.

I don't have one. I had checked into them awhile back but I to am just leery about online banks. I might have to recheck the one you guys are talking about though.

This is how I feel, too... I really wouldn't mind online banking as long as it's a known bank and connected to one I'm familiar with. I *am* still checking out the banks with the bankrate link that was elsewhere in this forum, so don't chisel my answer in stone yet.