Cell phones and banking would seem a proper fit. Whether you need to find an ATM or pay a bill at the last minute, the ability to access your bank's mobile website with your phone can be very useful. Anyone interested in mobile banking should ensure that they are using the best type of service for their needs. The questions to ask are: What service do I want? And what does my bank offer? Read on for some helpful tips about mobile banking options:

Browser-Based

Browser-based mobile banking is simply using your phone's interent browser to go to your bank's website. This type of browsing your bank's site will go a lot smoother if your bank has optmized their site with a mobile version of the site. Otherwise, browser-based mobile banking it difficult and time consuming. Unfortunately, many banks are still laboring with browser-based mobile sites that are slow and tricky to navigate. If your bank falls in this category, you may wanto shop around for a bank that offers a better mobile experience. With a large multi-branch bank you stand a better chance that the bank will have a mobile version of their site. The mobile version of the site will provide the same experience and options for phone users than computer users experience online banking through their PC. Browser-based mobile banking can offer you all the features you might need, but security and dependability can be suspect. In fact, security experts recommend downloading virus software if you use your phone's browser for accessing financial records.

Text Messaging

Another option is SMS-based mobile banking. This option allows bank customers to receive account information and account activity by sending a text message to their bank. This service is very popular in Western Europe and Asia, but has been slow to take off in the United States. The advantage of texting with your bank is that it is incredibly quick and easy. Within seconds you can verify your account balance or determine whether a check you wrote cleared. The disadvantage is that this mobile banking service is not interactive and has limited features. For instance, at many banks when you send a text to the bank, you will automatically receive a return text with your balance and a record of your last three banking transactions. That's OK, but what if the information you really needed was a transaction that occured a month or two ago? If your bank offers only a text message service for their mobile banking platform, chances are that you cannot access that information.

For on-the-fly banking, such as quick account updates and ATM locations, text messages to your bank can work. But, if you really want to look at your account history or pay bills you may be disappointed by this service.

Applications

If you go the Apple iPhone Applications Store you will see that several banks, including PNC Bank and Bank of America, have applications that can be downloaded straight from the internet to your cell phone. These secure proprietary software programs will enable you to do all the banking on your cellphone that you could otherwise do using your PC and your bank's online banking site. This is true mobile banking. The ability to pay bills from a coffee shop or transfer money from your checking account to a money market account to grab the higher rate you found on MoneyRates.com. This is where mobile functionality truly outpaces lugging out your PC and trying to find a free wi-fi signal.

Beyond the attractive features, an application downloaded straight to your cellphone offers better security than browser-based or text-based services. First off, you will not need to remember to constantly clear out your memory to erase the previous history of your interactions with your bank. If your cell phone is lost or destroyed your phone's cache can contain sensitive information. On the other hand, a downloaded application will reside on your phone securely encrypted. While a hacker will likely tell you anything can be hacked, proprietary software should make it more difficult for a hacker to steal your data.

What's Next?

So you have your cellphone and you have a checking account? Do a little research and make sure you have the right phone for the right bank. If you can make it work, your life will be easier.