THE FOLLOWING EMAILS have been received from listeners and users. To add your own comments, Email them to: mail@mpr.org. (Your submissions may be posted within MPR Online.)

ONLINE BANKING with Norwest is cheaper than using Checkfree and more convenient. I am happy to pay for the convenience and the integration with Quicken which really speeds my reconciliation. Online banking has been a big factor in helping me straighten out my credit problems also.

-- Kerry Jorgensen
05 Aug 1996

I'VE USED ONLINE BANKING since 1989 and I've found it to be the answer for me. I pay bills when they come in and schedule the payment for the due date. No more forgetting to mail a check and now my bills are paid before I am. It has worked VERY WELL for me.

The services like Norwest and Twin City Federal Co-op credit unions have helped me know how much I have and what is outstanding. The big problem with Norwest is the 1-2 day delay for things to show up.

TCCU has a LIVE system and it is FREE. I can deposit at a ATM and then go home and dial in and see the deposit. I prefer their system because it is LIVE.

I tend to put off things like bill payment, budgeting and mailing checks. The online service made it possible for me to open a bill, pay it and then forget it. It helps to see how much is going out, before I go shopping for groceries or meals out.

-- LAN
05 Aug 1996

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE with the comments submitted by L.A.N. Free home banking services like those offered by Twin City Co-ops Credit Union add tangibility and flexibility to banking. I have found that I can get every piece of information I desire about my account electronically, as well as communicate with my credit union regarding my account, which means I can do my banking whenever I want to!

Recently I got bold and tried the option of downloading my credit union account information into Quicken. It worked great, and has completely sold me on the convenience of home banking. And it's free!

Thanks for helping spread the word. I tell everyone I know who has a modem to do their banking online!

­ Betsy King
12 Aug 1996

I HAVE NOT FOUND PC banking to be a valuable service. I used Norwest's service for several weeks until I found it to be more trouble than simply using their free phone bank service. I think this is primarily because of the extra effort required to reconcile downloaded transactions with those that I had previously entered ­ if my payto: entry didn't match their electronically generated payto:, I would have to manually check and delete one of them.

Also, I couldn't transfer money out of my line of credit into savings or checking. I can do this on the phone bank for free!

But most of all I resent paying them to make their business easier. I think its time Norwest gives back a little of what they take.

­ Marc Debrey
26 August 1996