With so much negative publicity in the tabloids about banks closing their doors on the High Street, it is too easy to forget the positive aspects which lie behind these dismal (and over exaggerated) tales. In fact, between the Internet and the debit card, it is harder to say which has revolutionised the use of current accounts more during the past decade in the UK.

Undoubtedly now, however, online banking will be the forerunner of banking change over the next ten years. Already, if you are considering changing your current account, the best and most up to date place to research products and services offered by other banks or even by your own is the Internet. With banks seeking to outdo themselves in differentiating their product and service offerings, the Internet offers a veritable smorgasbord of current account choices combined with the ability to compare different offerings on the same page.

Current account choices range from Premium accounts, offering various perks (at a price) to Intelligent Finance offerings combining the management of savings, mortgage, loans and credit cards into one service at generously low rates of interest.

The Internet also widens the choice of access routes to your bank's services. Some accounts are Internet only, others offer phone access as well and others again maintain the links to the High Street in addition to their Internet and telephony offerings.

The most interesting developments in which financial organisations such as Cahoot and First Direct led the way are in account self management. This has extended in many cases to cover not only current accounts, but also savings, mortgage, loan and credit card offerings. Some banks now offer a service which covers all your online accounts, no matter which bank they belong to. And some have added share dealing to the range of online services on offer.

So it pays to shop around not only for the most suitable product but also for the kind of services you want to be able to access on and off line.

Applying for an online account is a relatively straightforward affair. Obviously, you require your personal details (name, address, date of birth). You will also need various financial details