Online Banking Essays - Financial Services, Economy, Finance

Online Banking Banking Online Imagine banks without tellers, desks, brochures, or ATM's. Picture, a virtual bank, residing inside of a computer, projected by images on a computer screen. US financial institutions are moving towards virtual banking?; a strategy making bank services available to customers any time and place they need them. Banks are offering more services as virtual banking becomes more popular, while the number of traditional teller-staffed branches are declining. Bank customers are moving away from traditional banking and becoming dependent on electronic transactions using ATMs and PCs. Thanks to this technology, financial institutions are using software programs, online services, and even the internet to allow customers to check balances, pay bills, and transfer funds among accounts. Bankers promise that, in the near future, we will be able to buy certificates of deposit, mutual funds, other investments, and even apply for loans electronically. Many people's best option is to plug into their bank through software. Intuits Quicken, Microsoft Money, and Managing Your Money are the top home budgeting programs allowing users a way to harness their assets through their PC. In order to use this software properly all a customer needs is a personal computer, software and a modem. On-screen instructions, laden with colorful graphics and pictures, explain how to select and work on various tasks. The system automatically calculates and updates account balances and keeps records of bills. By charging $5 to $20 a month for these services, banks will cash in on the high-tech superhighway. Internet banking differs from traditional PC banking in several ways. Banks have already set up home pages on the Internet to provide information to their existing and potential customers about upcoming services. In most home banking ventures, the bank sends application software to the customer. The customer then dials into the bank using their modem, downloads and uploads data, and runs the programs they previously installed on their computer, sending back a batch of requests such as transfers between accounts. With Internet banking, on the other hand, potential customers already own the software they need to do their banking: an internet browser. The actual banking software resides on the bank's server in the form of their home page. The company can easily present new information, change prices, or introduce new products without expensive advertising and mailings. In addition, the virtual bank can implement system enhancements online so that they do not interfere with normal business. By not commuting to banks customers save time and money. If cash is not an issue at the time of a transaction, then Internet banking is very useful. This new concept may catch on and become a profitable venture for banks. Early entrants in the Internet banking market will benefit on multiple fronts. These banks will appeal to a vast market and attract educated, professional, affluent and efficient people. The new customers will cut bank costs by visiting branches less frequently and switching from paper to electronic transactions. More importantly, by developing internal expertise today, banks can position themselves to react quickly to competitive moves and consumer trends as the financial services industry evolves. These banks will see the benefits as early players and enjoy the public relations boost that comes from being market leaders. Once people accept this more efficient way of banking, there will be less need for offices. This method is not at all a way to end banks, more like a convenient addition for customers. This technology is in the future, but at the same time just around the corner. Online banking will become a great way for people to control their money. Business Reports

Summary of the Medea Tragedy by Euripides

Summary of the Medea Tragedy by Euripides The plot of the Greek poet Euripides Medea tragedy is convoluted and messy, rather like its antihero, Medea. It was first performed at the Dionysian Festival in 431 BCE, where it famously won third (last) prize against entries by Sophocles and Euphorion. In the opening scene, the nurse/narrator tells us that Medea and Jason have lived together for some time as husband and wife in Corinth, but theirs is a troubled union. Jason and Medea met at Colchis, where King Pelias had sent him to capture the magical golden fleece from Medeas father King Aaetes. Medea saw and fell in love with the handsome young hero, and so, despite her fathers desire to retain possession of the precious object, helped Jason to escape. The couple fled first Medeas Colchis, and then after Medea was instrumental in the death of King Pelias at Iolcos, fled that region, finally arriving at Corinth. Medea Is Out, Glauce Is In At the opening of the play, Medea and Jason are already the parents of two children during their life together, but their domestic arrangement is about to end. Jason and his father-in-law-to-be, Creon, tell Medea that she and her children must leave the country so that Jason may marry Creons daughter Glauce in peace. Medea is blamed for her own fate and told that if she hadnt behaved like a jealous, possessive woman, she could have remained in Corinth. Medea asks for and is granted one days reprieve, but King Creon is fearful, and rightly so. During that one days time, Medea confronts Jason. He retaliates, blaming Medeas banishment on her own temper. Medea reminds Jason of what she has sacrificed for him and what evil she has done on his behalf. She reminds him that since she is from Colchis and is, therefore, a foreigner in Greece and without a Greek mate, she will not be welcome anywhere else. Jason tells Medea that he has given her enough already, but that he will recommend her to the care of his friends (and he has many as witnessed by the gathering of the Argonauts). Jasons Friends and Medeas Family Jasons friends need not be bothered because as it turns out Aegeus of Athens arrives and agrees that Medea may find refuge with him. With her future assured, Medea turns to other matters. Medea is a witch. Jason knows this, as do Creon and Glauce, but Medea seems appeased. She presents a wedding gift to Glauce of a dress and crown, and Glauce accepts them. The theme of poisoned clothing should be familiar to those who know of  the death of Hercules. When Glauce puts on the robe it burns her flesh. Unlike Hercules, she immediately dies. Creon dies, too, trying to help his daughter. Although thus far, Medeas motives and reactions seem at least understandable, then Medea does the unspeakable. She slaughters her own two children. Her revenge comes when she witnesses Jasons horror as she flies off to Athens in the chariot of the sun god Helios (Hyperion), her ancestor.