A new course launched by the eSafety Commissioner is seeking to make online banking both safer and more accessible to more older Australians.
eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant said while two-thirds of Seniors undertake online banking at least monthly, many are still wary of banking online due to security concerns, so the course was vital to increasing their confidence.
“We take for granted that online banking has been widely adopted, but for many older Australians, ‘taking the plunge’ can be a huge leap of faith — the idea of having your money accessible and transferrable with one click can be both liberating and incredibly frightening,” said Ms Inman Grant.
The Commissioner said an estimated 75% of older Australians were concerned about the safety and security of online banking.
She said the course, part of the eSafety Be Connected program, would teach older Australians to transfer funds, check balances, download statements, pay bills, and help them to set strong passwords, avoid scams and use safe ways to communicate with their bank.
It also features a simulated online bank, called Squirrel Bank — to help older Australians practice skills learned in the course and help increase their confidence to bank online.
“Learning how to access online banking safely is critical for older Australians,” added Ms Inman Grant.
Australian Banking Association CEO, Anna Bligh welcomed the initiative from the eSafety Commissioner.
“We want banking to be accessible and safe for all bank customers. Be Connected will help older customers gain the confidence they need to bank online,” said Ms Bligh.
“Importantly the module covers both banking essentials and online safety information to help warn people of potential fraud and scams,” she said.
“Remember a bank will never ask for your account details, PIN or passwords.”
The Be Connected program is an Australian government initiative committed to improving the online confidence, skills and safety of older Australians. The new online banking course can be found on the Be Connected site.
