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An online banking bus called Dora is coming to Mahurangi this month to help people get up to speed with looking after their money online.
Set up in 2012 after the Christchurch earthquakes, with support from InternetNZ, Dora is touring the country providing free digital banking classes to anyone in the community.
The 7-metre long bus, which can seat 10 people, will be parked for a day outside libraries at Warkworth on August 15, Mahurangi East on August 16 and Wellsford on August 18, as well as Summerset Falls retirement village on August 17, and under the RSA in Warkworth on August 19.
Although a convenience for many, a fear or lack of understanding of online digital banking can leave some seniors struggling to stay in control of their finances.
SeniorNet online banking tutor Marilyn Goodwin says, among other concerns, this has the potential to put them at risk of elder abuse if they have to rely on more digitally savvy family members to help look after their money.
Two thirds of all financial elder abuse is by family members, according to Age Concern.
Goodwin says that for most seniors not up to speed with online banking, it is usually just a lack of confidence around new technology, which can be overcome with tutoring.
But there is a small group with physical difficulties, such as failing eyesight and tremors, that can make it hard to use online banking at all. This can also lead to security issues for them with their bank if they then hand over their passwords to a family member or friend.
She is critical of banks that are shutting smaller branches without first ensuring all their local senior customers are up to speed with online banking.
If people are doing phone banking, they will have a pin number that will prove to the bank who they are, she says. But otherwise, you must prove who you are to the bank to get set up for online banking, which can be very difficult for some seniors if they are having to travel some distance to get to the nearest branch.
While Goodwin already offers free tutoring for seniors wanting to learn how to do online banking through Senior Net in Warkworth, she is right behind the Dora initiative and will be helping at Warkworth Library on August 15. She encourages anyone not already doing online banking to sign up for it.
Bookings for training on Dora are essential. There are three separate sessions each day starting at 10am, with breaks every hour or so, and ending about 2.30pm. Each session will cover an introduction to digital banking, safety and security, and transactions.
Dora’s equipment is powered by solar-charged batteries, and internet access is provided by both terrestrial wireless networks – 3G and 4G – and in more remote areas, by satellite.
Registration: Go to www.steppingup.nz/programmes/dora/dora-north-rodney, or call Shelley on 0800 463 422.
