50 per cent of web users choose internet banking

Some 22 million people used the internet to check their balances last year

Internet users are more likely to use internet banking for straightforward actions, but still rely on phone banking for more complicated enquiries, according to research from independent watchdog financialfraudaction.org.uk.

More than 50 per cent of the UK's 41.4 million regular internet users are now banking online, according to the research, up from one third in 2008.

In the first half of 2009, 22 million adults used internet banking on their main current account.

Where more users have moved to the internet, fewer are using phone banking, with numbers declining to 14.5 million in the first half of 2009, compared with 16.1 million in 2005. Last year, 26.8 million adults used either online or phone banking.

Online banking sees most customers checking account balances and statements, used by 95 and 83 per cent respectively. Where people have enquiries about their account, however, they are more likely to use phone banking, with six in 10 opting to do this - less than 20 per cent would use the internet for the same.

Katy Worobec, head of fraud control at financialfraudaction.org.uk, said: “Online and phone banking has changed the way we manage our accounts, enabling us to keep a much closer eye on our finances outside of traditional banking hours. This has slightly increased the risk of becoming a victim of online or phone banking fraud.”

The group has released guidelines on minimising the risk.