Imagine if there was a credit union branch that would only report account balances or collect payments for bills. And if day after day members would pour through the doors and nonmembers would even stop in to look around, but no services were ever offered to them to open new accounts, take loans or even send or receive money from any other financial institution.

This sounds preposterous. However, this lack of service and absurd business model is all too common in online banking. Of course, not all cases are this extreme. In today's market, a lot of credit unions still have some hurdles to clear before their Web site will be viewed as a viable resource for conducting business as a traditional brick and mortar branch.

Potential and existing members, who are searching for new financial products and services are all starting the process online. They are visiting not only local community institutions but exploring the entire Web. Knowing that, it is the logical next step for a credit union to bring all of its in-branch services online-including opening a new account instantaneously. Offering online account opening and funding services meets minimum requirements for a virtual bank, and not offering the services will prove to be detrimental to business in the very near future.

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