4 Useful Tips for Safe Online Banking

As we all know, internet is everywhere and so its popularity as a medium to make financial transactions. Whether its bill payment, creation of a fixed deposit or fund transfer, internet facility allows you to do everything in a fast and convenient way. Nowadays, everything can be done on ease without even entering the bank. All you need to do is to log into the bank’s website in order to make transfers, check balance, and even deposit checks using smartphones. In fact, Net Banking has made bank operations very convenient. But, in a world of constant data breaches, anything that you do online, cyber criminals might take advantage of. Thus, a few knowledge of computers and internet can help you stay safe and secure. Here’re the few tips for safe internet banking:

Online Banking

BE SECURE: You always need to keep your operating system and browser up-to-date with the latest security software. Also, you must install these from a trusted website. Apart from using public terminals, you should also avoid locations that offer online connection through Wi-Fi, where there is very less security and privacy

Tips for safe online banking

ALWAYS CLEAR CACHE: Browsers usually save the pages viewed by you on your computer and these pages can be accessed easily, if you wish to view them again. Thus, after visiting your net banking account, you can clear the cache in order to make sure that no one else is able to view the confidential information you have viewed

Inculcate the habit of clearing cache for Safe Online Banking

DO NOT FOLLOW THE LINKS: To access your bank’s website, you should always type in the web address (URL). Never click on a link that you get from an e-mail. That’s how phishers work, they re-direct you to a malicious site that resembles your bank portal and thus, uses the information provided by you to access your account.

MAKE USE OF ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD: Using an on-screen keyboard is the easiest way to protect your password from being recorded by key loggers, especially at the public area. A key logger can be an application installed on your computer that records and passes on the information that you make. Using this information, it will be easy to find your username and password 

Enjoy the convenience of Net Bank without worrying about cyber safety

On the whole, by keeping in mind these above mentioned tips, you will be able to enjoy the convenience of net banking without involving a great loss of your funds. Stay alert!

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Tips to get the best deal on car loan

A loan is probably the easiest way to make big purchases. Financial institutions or banks provide you with a lump sum amount and you repay it with small monthly instalments. It is the only way, a salaried individual can dream of owning a house, a car, and a high end mobile phone, for that matter.

A car loan is by far the most popular of all the loans available. Only because of easy availability of such loans, a middle class individual is now able to afford a four wheeler. However, with various providers, finding a best deal on it can be overwhelming. We have listed down a few tips to help you avail the best deal on car loan. Read on!

Negotiate with the car dealer:

We were talking about bringing down the loan rate, right? So, how does the car dealing came into the picture? Well, it is the most overlooked factor, but negotiating the car price is the best way to bring down the cost of a loan. Approach multiple dealers, look for discounts and offers and buy the one with the cheapest price (without compromising on your priorities, of course). The lesser the price, the lower will be the loan amount needed.

Shop around:

Just like you shop around for mobile phones, car and other purchases, do the same to avail the best deal on your bank loan as well. Do not just blindly go with the bank that your car dealer has a tie up with. Look for other options. Research and talk to different banks. Go for the one that best suits your needs and budgets.

Keep your credit reports in check:

Any previous record of failing to repay bills or loans will land you in trouble. Ensure that you have a positive credit profile. 

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A Term Life Insurance Plan, For the Love of Family

Your responsibility towards your family does not end with your life. If you are the only source of income in your family, you need to be doubly vigilant about how they are to survive without you.

A term life insurance plan is the most economical way to safeguard your family against a financial crisis, in case of your untimely demise. This is the most basic type of policy provided by insurance companies. It offers a lump sum amount of money to your nominee in the event of your death and clears off all your existing loans and debts.

Moreover, some companies offer an additional sum in the case of insured’s accidental death. Certain insurance providers also give supplementary income, if the insured loses his/her regular salary due to an accidental disability or a critical illness.

Browse below to find the best term insurance plans in India:

Policy	Key Features
Aegon Life iTerm Insurance Plan	Ø  Entry Age- Min 18 years, Max 65 years Ø  Policy Term- Min 5 years, Max 40 years (Up to 75 years) Ø  Pays critical illness and accidental death benefits
Max Life Online Term Plan	Ø  Entry Age- Min 18 years, Max 60 years Ø  Policy Term- Min 10 years, Max 35 years Ø  Pays critical illness, accidental disability and accidental death benefits
Bharti AXA eProtect Plan	Ø  Entry Age- Min 10 years, Max 65 years Ø  Policy Term- Min 10 years, Max 30 years Ø  Pays accidental death benefits
ICICIPru iProtect Smart Plan	Ø  Entry Age- Min 18 years, Max 65 years Ø  Policy Term- Min 5 years, Max 20 years Ø  Pays accidental death benefits
SBI Life eShield Plan	Ø  Entry Age- Min 18 years, Max 65 years Ø  Policy Term- Min 5 years, Max 30 years Ø  Pays accidental death benefits

This is the least expensive policy of all, requiring you to pay very less premium. However, the company does not pay you anything if you survive the term.

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5 Things You Should Look Out For When Buying Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is an overlooked aspect of travel. It shouldn’t be. It’s what keeps you safe during your travels. You should make it a point to buy one before you travel. Here some things about a travel insurance plan should keep an eye on.  

1.    Medical Coverage

This is the best aspect of a travel insurance, they act as an overseas medical insurance. If you ever need medical assistance or required to be hospitalized, the travel insurance will ensure you are taken care of. When you buy one, check the extent of medical coverage in the plan. Here are some of the questions to ask:

•    Does the policy cover entire hospitalisation expenses?

•    Are there any sub-limits?

•    Is there a co-pay clause?

•    Does the insurer have a network of hospitals in the country I am going to visit?

•    Will I be assured of the best medical facilities?

•    Am I provided emergency medical evacuation back to my home country?

•    Do they cover injuries due to adventure sports? If not, how can it be included in the policy?

2.    Financial Emergencies

Losing your funds in a foreign nation is no joke. In case you are robbed of your wallet or purse, or an incident where you have lost the money on you, a travel insurance policy will make sure you are provided with some financial assistance so that you can continue your trip without having to worry about expenses.  

3.    Personal Liability Cover

A good travel insurance includes a personal liability component. Accidents can happen anywhere without any prior warning. You might by accident damage someone else’s car or you are held responsible for breaking a valuable item at a museum. Whatever be the case, you will need to compensate the damage. The personal liability cover in your policy will provide you monetary compensation which is a blessing in such situations.

4.    Delays and cancellations

Travel insurance policies make sure that in the case of any delays or cancellations, you are reimbursed for the amount. Say you are flying from Mumbai to New York via a transit stop at Dubai. There is a technical glitch due to which the flight from Mumbai is cancelled. You are not only unable to fly, you also miss your connecting flight from Dubai. It’s a sheer waste of money and time. Travel insurances reimburse you for your financial loss incurred due to such cancellations.

5.    Can you buy them online?

Travel insurances can be bought directly from the agent or online. Make sure your insurer allows you buy their travel insurance online. Going to meet the agent and buying a policy can often be irritating and cumbersome. A better option is to go online and purchase a travel insurance from wherever you are just at the click of a few buttons without the hassles of long queues or pesky sales agents.

It’s best to be insured while travelling. You get to enjoy the trip in all its glory without having to worry every minute. If you intend to travel and looking to get insured for travel, do so from ICICI Lombard. They are one of India’s leading insurers and offer a variety of travel insurance plans at affordable premiums.   

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Are You A Potential Credit Card Customer?

Owning a credit card provides various benefits; Besides serving as a stronger security portal for your money, it helps in easy and secure payments and aids in getting future loans, to mention a few. Consequently, a lot of people are inclined to buy credit cards. If you are one of them, browse through these five things that everyone planning to buy a credit card should consider:

Eligibility
Your take home income is one of the most important criteria to access your eligibility to own a credit card, as it determines your repayment capacity. It not only helps the bank interpret your eligibility but also assist in setting the credit limit on your card, at the time of issual. Hence, it is crucial that you check the criteria of minimum threshold income for credit cards in whichever bank you chose to apply. You’ll have to present your latest ITR copy as your income proof.

Relationship with the Bank
Applying in a bank where you already hold an account simplifies and speeds up the process. In this case, the bank already knows you as a customer and has witnessed your behaviour over the years, hence it saves the time of proofing. However, it is crucial that your share a healthy relationship with your bank, i.e. throughout your time with the bank you have maintained your account properly, always having a minimum amount of balance and a consistent flow of money.

Credit History
Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL) is an information company that maintains the record of every individual’s payments pertaining to loans and credit cards. When you apply for a credit card, your past credit history and any personal, education or home loan is checked by your company through this CIBIL report. This makes it mandatory that you make your payments in time and clear any outstanding loan before you apply for a credit card.

Purpose
Your credit card should be bought in accordance with the major purpose you want it to use it for.  This helps you chose a card that caters to your needs and provides more credit points and other benefits. Check different credit card offers and decide what suits you the best.

Free or Annual Fee Credit Card
Free for lifetime credit cards are a suitable option for you if your expenses are basic in nature. However, if you require heavy usage on your card, i.e. you use it for more than 40% of your payments, then it is a wise idea to go for premium credit cards that charge you an annual fee. This cost may range from Rs99 to a few thousands per annum, but comes with various benefits and higher reward points. With Axis Bank, you can apply for creditcard online. 

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Top 5 Term Insurance Plans

Every individual looking for an insurance policy comes with a major motive of safeguarding his loved ones financially under an event of sudden demise. It is also usually supplemented with tax exemption and investment benefits.

However a term insurance plan is a pure form of life cover and doesn’t really comprise of any investment benefits. It provided affordable life covers option with low and flexible premium payment feasibility.

Term Insurance Plans of Life Insurance Companies

Let us look at some of the financial institutions offering you with a term insurance plan:

AEGON Religare Life Insurance 

If you want your family to carry on with the same lifestyle even after your sudden demise, then AEGON Religare’s iterm plan is always there for your rescue. It completely deals with all your concern and comes with a protection for your loved ones at a very nominal cost. You can avail a cover of Rs 1 crore for your loved ones with a premium of Rs 6,200 per annum. You can also avail some additional benefits by paying a little extra on your premium.

Bharti AXA

Bharti AXA Life’s e-protect term plan helps to safeguard your family, and at a very nominal cost. However this policy doesn’t really come with any additional riders.

Aviva

Save the time and efforts in safeguarding the future of your loved ones by buying a life cover online. Aviva’s i-life is a pure life cover plan with a nominal premium of Rs 7, 368 per annum.

HDFC Life

HDFC Life believes in being at your service at just one click. Click2Protect term insurance plan from HDFC is a quick and simple solution that provides a high cover at very nominal cost.

Kotak

Kotak’s e-preferred term comes with the feasibility of buying it online. However it is comparatively high on premium of Rs 10, 825 when compared to others in the list. Also it really doesn’t come with any added benefits.

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Revamp Your Savings Portfolio for These 4 Reasons

Retirement Planning 

‘He who earns has the right to save.’ This sentence is true for majority of the bread earners, who toil hard during their day job. Even if you are not earning, still you have a tendency to save for a rainy day or for achieving a certain financial goal. Based on this general tendency to save, several savings plans are available in the market, and they compel individuals to invest in them.

However, people are not inclined to choose any of the savings instruments unless and until they are given a reason to save. This main reason of purchase needs to be planted in to the minds of people, so that they can opt for these investment instruments. Before you head out on a quest to seek that very reason of saving, take a look at these four common reasons, which drive every salaried as well as non-salaried person to save.

• Retirement Planning

After retirement, people do not have a day job to carry. When you do not have a day job, your stable source of income is taken away, and means to meet your expenses become limited. To receive some amount of financial income after retirement, you need to save money during the working age. However money does not grow with time, so you have to invest in certain savings plan, which guarantees assured returns after retirement.

Savings Plan for Future

• Over expenditure Budget

Troubles do not come invited, but they do cause damage. Sometimes the damage is small and easily repairable. However, at times when the damage is severe, financial assistance is required. Many of you may dislike the prospect of borrowing a loan to pay up for incurred damage. For instance, bursting of home pipes, major problem in car, crashing of house roof, etc., are classified as severe damages, which require substantial funds for recovery. Similarly, purchases from annual sales can overthrow your monthly budget. In such situations, you can use your savings, instead of relying on the credit card system. 

• Emergency Expenditure

Accidents happen without invitation, but the financial damage caused by them is predictable. It may be a car accident, or a medical emergency, you still need to pay the upfront amount at hospital. At times, severe accidents can cost you your life, and leave your family orphaned. But when you opt for insurance saving plan like iguarantee plan from Aegon Religare, you not only insure yourself against accident, but also reap the benefits of annual pay-outs, which can handle general medical expenses.

• For achieving a goal

You may dream of owning a fine car or a grand house, but your current income does not allow you to purchase either of it readily. In such situations, it’s always advisable to save and reap the benefits later. When you start saving today, you can easily see yourself in a new car or home, after a few years. Similarly, there are many other financial goals like college education of children, purchase of second home, children’s marriage and many more, which require huge amount of money. For all these things, you need to invest in a promising savings plan.

These are four of the top reasons why you need to revamp your savings portfolio.

Savings for Home

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