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With only a few clicks, people can now check their balances, pay bills and request chequebooks and bank statements in the comfort of their home or office.

You don't even need to call your bank to check if your deposit came through. All you need to do is log on to your account online. Credit-card accounts can now also be viewed online.

Your bank may have asked you if you would like to receive electronic statements. The first question that comes to mind is whether this is safe or it is better to stay with paper statements.

Here are some useful tips for online banking:

At Citibank, customers can now opt to receive monthly statements via e-mail. For heightened security, to open the statement file, you will need a password that is provided by the bank upon signing up. Customers should then change the password when they log on to Citibank's website.

Customers are now starting to appreciate electronic statements, because they avoids clutter. You can file and view soft copies anytime, anywhere.

Choosing electronic statements over paper is also good for the environment. Less need for paper means fewer trees need to be cut.

But is it safe to go electronic? Yes, it is safe to switch to electronic statements. Banks have now taken more steps to safeguard online banking sites from fraud.

Also, banking websites feature the latest encryption technology to make sure that the password you type in cannot be captured by others online.

Second, some banks now require the person accessing the account to answer a security question(s) previously set by the account holder.

Here are some safety precautions to remember when banking online:

1. Update your antivirus software.

2. Install a firewall.

3. When using public computers like those in Internet cafes, avoid accessing financial information.

4. Check the Web address you are visiting. Unscrupulous hackers have copied bank websites in an effort to pinch sensitive information from account holders. This is called "phishing". Make sure the Web address you type is correct and matches that written on the bank's literature.

5. If you receive e-mail from people you do not know, do not open the attachments.

When you start banking online, you will see for yourself how convenient, easy and safe it is. By observing the above precautions, your online banking experience will probably be worry-free.