Internet Banking general

mrajfarmer

Can it ever be safe to put your card number and PIN into a website in order to register for internet banking? That is what I'm being asked to do by one of the largest banks in Spain, with whom I have a current account. It's their official site, I'm not replying to an email and it's a secure site but I just can't believe it's safe. Surely no UK bank would ever ask you to do this? I've been assured by a Spaniard it's quite normal practice here but it just doesn't seem right to me. On the other hand I'm very keen to use internet banking whilst I'm living here.

Advice anyone?

bengalknights

As long as the website is HTTPS and your actually sure its the banks webssite then i cant really see a problem imo.

Loughton_Monkey

Any card usually has a Cash Machine pin.

When you enrol for Interent Banking, there is usually another PIN for that. I have never known a bank that requires the actual cash machine PIN to be put into online banking.

p00hsticks

will-in-estoril wrote: »

Did you receive an e-mail asking for this information? Phishing.

OP said in their original post....

"It's their official site, I'm not replying to an email and it's a secure site but I just can't believe it's safe

To be honest, it's so long ago that I set my internet banking up (for several different banks) that I can't remember exactly how I went abotu it - but I thing it involved the bank sending reference numbers and (four or six digit) pins through the post to use, which are completely separate from my actual account number, card number and card pin.

Mikeyorks

I read it

.. one of the largest banks in Spain, with whom I have a current account. .....Surely no UK bank would ever ask you to do this? I've been assured by a Spaniard it's quite normal practice here . On the other hand I'm very keen to use internet banking whilst I'm living here.

the OP is talking about a mainland Spanish bank? As they happily stick large PINs in captive bulls in the name of sport ..... I suppose anything is possible?

olly300

will-in-estoril wrote: »

Yes, but was it a link originally from an e-mail? The OP has failed to mention the bank in question, so that any help offered is done so in good faith given the limited information to hand.

Read the original post.

The OP clearly stated that they were not replying to an email and that they had already asked a Spaniard.

And in reply to the OP post -
Different countries have different ways of banking but having lived aboard and had a foreign bank account their method of setting up online banking was more like one of the UK banks I am with. You registered off line, then had a one password/pin for online and a different one for ATMs.

I suggest you mention the bank it is.

calypso_rhapsody

Can you register and then immediately go and change your PIN?

Sounds a very odd situation and rather surprising - am sure that no UK bank would do ask you to input card number and ATM PIN but if that's the Spanish way then maybe changing the PIN afterwards will at least give you some more protection?

AnonymousForObviousReason

No, it can't be really what's intended. I know from other internet accounts from more professional banks, they ask for an internet PIN but it's different (normally 6 digit) number that arrives in the post.

Probably wouldn't work anyway but really don't do it without confirmation. Take it as a hint and run.