DukeNukemForever: I know there is still a place for java on the machine for local programs, but for safety reasons it's highly recommended to switch it off in the browsers. With Sun bought up by Oracle it seems they have big trouble to fix all the bugs just in time, it seems there are constantly security vulnerability. So, if that helps your decision, ask your bank if they plan to switch the system and abandon java. If they don't want to, search another one. Really, java and online banking is from the security point of view an awful combination today.
Yeah that too. Fortunately even my Linux machines were set to update also the Oracle Java automatically, as soon as Oracle released the much needed security fixes in the latest version.
But I'd definitely prefer not using Java for online banking, both for the security reasons and how it may have extra issues on non-Windows environments. Maybe I should call the other banks and ask whether they require Java for online banking.
I would be fine using even the text based portal, if it just had all the same functionality as the desktop Java portal.
I think they have just invested too much on their current broken service to make a switch just like that.