Top 10 Personal Bank Account Handling Mistakes

Its not everyday you get to hear this.
"PRINCE Charles's personal bank details have been stolen, they include his vital account number, sort code and national insurance number."
(The People Newspaper, United Kingdom - issue 24 June 2007)
The Prince's secret details are believed to have been on a laptop computer stolen from an accountant's car. The accountant works for payroll firm Moorepay which handles wages for Charles's Duchy of Cornwall estate.
If you think you are a "smooth operator" in all your bank dealings, we still suggest you keep this quick checklist as a guide and reminder to being a prude bank customer.
The 1st mistake is not going through your bank statements when you receive them. If your balance is minimum, you could be charged a fee, or if there is a problem in the statements, you could have it rectified immediately.
The 2nd mistake is very common and has to be avoided. Discarded bank statements or deposit slips can easily lead to identity thefts. Therefore, shred the discarded documents or tear them into small pieces even if they are thrown in trash cans.
The 3rd mistake is, is related to the second mistake. If you review your bank statements in office, during work, don't forget to put it back in your bag or purse after reviewing it.
The 4th mistake is, in order to save time, people usually sign their checks in advance. Please sign or endorse your checks inside the bank, even if it takes a long time. Its not worth loosing your money.
The 5th mistake is to set and use an easy password. Try and choose a non typical password, not like your date of birth or your number plate. Also change your password every two to three months. And never write down your password, except in the privacy of your own home or bedroom.
The 6th mistake is paying unnecessary fees. Various banks charges fees for various services, but not all. Therefore, check out all the banks and their charges before you open your personal account.
The 7th mistake is doing online banking & transactions in public places. Using WiFi in hang out places offers you to go online and log on. This could prove dangerous as, anyone could access your account details using WiFi.
The 8th mistake is using ATM machines, and walking out of the ATM cubicle openly, specially when you are not feeling safe physically. Most important of all, never write down your pin number anywhere, especially on your ATM card.
The 9th mistake is assuming that since you have a personal account in a bank, you have to take a loan from that bank only. That's not the case. You can shop around in other banks and check out their loan offers as well. Maybe they will offer you a better loan plan.
The 10th and the final mistake is that you do most of your banking transactions online. Develop a good relationship with your bank manager and the staff. It will help you in the future in case you ever have a problem.
Its not all that difficult when it comes to securing your bank information, being careful and staying aware of what's going on in your account is the key. Identity theft and bank errors have made it essential that you watch your step and follow simple precautionary measures.
Bonus Tip:Even minor changes in bank policies can create issues, causes confusion headaches and resolving them can cost your precious time and money. We suggest you make it your habit to "always read the small text", take your time scrutinizing and understanding bank policies and ask questions before you sign any contracts.

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