When you bank online, you can do just about everything you used to do the old-fashioned way.
Most tasks are easier. You can pay bills, organize transactions, and view checks without moving from your desk.
However, one task has lagged: making "informal" payments is still difficult for most consumers. If you want to pay a friend for your share of dinner, you may have to hit the ATM or write a check. Small businesses and landlords also have a hard time collecting payments electronically.
Fortunately, things are changing. More and more banks allow you to make cost-effective (or free) payments to others. They're also making it easier to do with mobile phones. Yes, PayPal is free for personal payments, but it's separate from your bank.
How do you make payments to friends? Tell us about it in the comments.
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