First internet bank of Indiana
During the first wave of electronic commerce,
Many established banks opened online branches and a considerable number of new, completely online, banks were formed.
Many of these online banking initiatives were closed, sold, or merged into other operations after the first wave of electronic commerce had subsides. By 2001, many notable names that had dominated the first wave were gone. For example, Bank one had closed its online subsidiary Wingspan Bank and merged its operations into its existing retail banking department. Royal Bank of Canada had done the same thing with its Security first network bank (generally believed to have been the first online bank). compuBank and G&L internet Bank were both sold to other banks, and USABanshares.com was closed in a flurry of fraud accusations and regulatory concerns.
Many early online-only banks faced similar challenges. They often bought loans instead of originating them. Purchased loans yield lower interest income because the originating bank always charges a fee or discount. They also tended to pay higher rates on customer deposits to attract new customers. These routes to rapid growth can significantly reduce profitability. Physical banks with many branches gain customers and market share because people walk or drive by a branch office and see the bank’s name. New online-only banks must spend substantial suns on advertising that helps establish them as viable brands in a highly competitive market. And many well-established banks now operate online, offering customers a known brand name and the convenience o physical branches along with online banking services. Small businesses were reluctant to deal with online-only banks in the early years of their existence. Small business generate considerable profits for banks because they tend to borrow money at relatively high interest rates and also tend to keep large balances in their checking accounts. Thus, there were a number of challenges that made survival difficult for online-only banks.