did a 5-10 minute survey on Superannuation for ING direct upon logging out. What they are trying to do is to ask what customers want and what will give customers the attention to switch funds. I think they are on the right track and I believe they will have a user-friendly account keeping system which is at current, fairly complicated as I am with IOOF. All I could do is to see my funds, but I couldn't do anything with it. Every small little changes with investment options, I would need to write in, fill up forms. Hopefully, ING direct comes out something different like what they did with the everyday account.

Additional Services

just touching on a few services that I've explored over the last few days.

wanted to up my account limits and I was able to do it with ING Direct with immediate effect upon confirming the sms code for security purposes. I would not have done it with my previous bank, from what I remember, the limit increase was only available the next business day.

Like the sms security as well. CBA has the same function. Simple, convenient way of confirming your details. But at the same time, if someone were to get hold of your phone and at the same time your details. trouble might be brewing

I also came across the direct debit information provided from the bank. It has all the contact details for all companies like EnergyAustralia, Health Insurances and RTA etc. Helps in getting al the direct debit services sort as quickly as we can. Well Done ING.

you can also do a cheque order online as well. All information are so simple to understand. User-friendly with all the details that we need to provide. I know you can do it with other banks as well but I think ING direct puts everything in the correct order and simple to understand.

still very satisfied with the product that I've got.

$$Extra Cash$$

eftpos $200 out from woolies the other day and true to the bank's words, I've got 50 cents. first time ever that a bank actually gives you $$ for withdrawing money. the criteria here is to withdraw at least $200 before you get 50 cents. anything less than the amount, you don't get charge anything at all.

Even though the amount isnt that great and some may even think cheap skate, but a small amount shows the bank effort and why not, when somebody actually gives you money to withdraw your own money.

I still want to let everyone know how I like the different symbols representing the transactions. easily understandable when i'm log in and let you search through the transactions quickly.

no complains till now.. coolz. go Orange!

Purchase and ATM Withdrawal

tried 2 facilities with my new ING Orange Everyday Account last week.

1. made a purchase using my key card and ING gave me $20 for my first purchase transaction. Down side of this is that I'm charge a small fee (20cents) for an international transaction which I have not come across before using my other cards. Another fee of a dollar is charged for paypal authorisation. This may not be part of ING but a fee required by Paypal.

2. Withdrew $200 from one of the ATMs and was told I need to pay a fee of $2. Went back online to check, ING immediately refunded the ATM fee as I withdrew more than $200. Very happy with that. Down side is I need to control my budget tighter now that I have cash in hand.

How good is that. I've got $20 making my first purchase and making my first deposit. I'll get another $20 for a direct debit transaction which is currently proving to be a pain in the arse. I've done the necessary documentation for my health fund and road tolls to change my account details. For one week, nothing has been updated. Very disappointed.

Anyway, I'll be getting $60 for opening the account and that equals to the 1 year of bank fees ($5 per month) I paid to Westpac.

Overall, fast in updating the transactions online and the description are very easy to understand with different symbols used to represent different transactions. Bonus $$ are always good!

Promotion

just when I was stuck in the jam on the harbour bridge, I was free to look out of the car in the bumper to bumper traffic and there it was, a banner reads (if is too small on the photo)

"BE A FEE FIGHTER"

orangeeveryday.com.au

nice cheap promotion once again from ING Direct. well placed banner right beside the traffic display which reads (as usual) "Delay Ahead, <--- ALT Route"

then again, I feel this is not that effective, given that is hand-drawn and drivers might just look at it and forget about it when they get home except for ppl like me who took a picture =).

Setting Up the Orange Everyday Account

Setting up the Orange Everyday account with ING Direct is eas-sy.

All I have to do was to click on the right link, fill in my details and instantly, an account is being set up online. The next thing I've gotta do is to print out to the verification slip and bring it in to any post office with 100 points of ID, which in this case, my drivers license to confirm that my details are correct.

What I like about this process is the fast service. Within the first working day after I visited the post office, my account is set up and ready to be access with all the features. User friendly features include giving a personalised name to your account and the other accounts in the address book. For security, each time you set up an account in the address book, a sms is sent to you for confirmation.

Within 2 days of account activation, chop chop, I received a welcome pack with the debit card, pds,t&c and also paid postage envelopes and forms to take care of my direct debit arrangements. This is something new and this small act allows me to feel that they do look after their clients.

Once the account is opened, you can immediately open a savings maximiser account (an account with attractive interest) and link it to the orange everyday account. Since details are similar, the account is set up and can be access instantly, the only thing this time is to input ur TFN.

Overall, the account does not take much hassle to set up. Online features are easy to use and understand. The bank try its best to make their client feel welcome even though they are a virtual bank. Security features are not compromised. Good Stuff.

Choosing The Orange Everyday Account

i've been shopping around quite a while for an everyday account that has no fees because Westpac has not dropped their fees yet whereas every other banks have. Not good.

ING Direct has always caught my attention with its good marketing skills. Advertisments at the bus stops and TV and of course the attractive colour, orange. straight away, being a soccer fan, I knew that this is a dutch bank, spotting the same colour as their national team jersey colours.

The last factor to convince me was that "Money" magazine gave a good review and awarded the Orange Everyday Account as the Most Innovative Product for 2010.

Many features of this account attracted me:

1) No account keeping fees (of course)

2) No ATM fees if more than $200 is withdraw at any ATM

3) If you get a cashout of $200 with an Eftpos purchase, ING Direct even gives you 50cents.

The first feature is a must for me. Second feature is for me to control my budget better and not allowing me to withdraw whenever I like. Third feature is something innovative and not offered by any other banks. I was thinking - Why Not? I can even link this account to a Savings Maximiser Account which gives one of the highest interest rates around.

The down side for ING Direct is that they are only available through phone and email even though they do have an office in Sydney. However, I think this is not an important factor considering that it is a everyday account. On the other hand, if it was a home loan. I would have factor that in as you guys can read from my previous posts.

In the end, I've got sick of Westpac charging me $60 per year for fees and decided to go with ING Direct. They even gave me $600 to donate off to my charity for writing this blog. Now, that's something different.

ING Direct Blogger Review Program

hello all, I've just participated in the ING Direct Blogger Review Program. The purpose of this program is to trial the services and facilities of the bank accounts with ING Direct's agreement, and for doing that, ING Direct have provided me with $600 which will be donated to a charity of my choice.

Over the next few weeks, I'll venture into the facilities, services and benefits that this new account can offer me and provide a review, good and bad, on my blog.

watch this space!

for more information, pls log in to http://www.ingdirect.com.au/ and that's where I found out a lot of the products that ING can offer.