We all have the same problems - far too much month at the end of the money. We all need a financial shuffle from time to time.

In the past, this meant standing in a queue at the bank and, when your turn eventually came, incurring the displeasure of the cashier and those still waiting if you asked for anything other than a paying-in slip.

I have been exploring the possibilities of banking without human intervention.

I bank at the University of Sussex branch of HSBC, which is an absolute nightmare in October when the students return from their long vacation. It can take ages to get served and everyone gets so grumpy it simply is not worth the hassle.

HSBC offers a very decent online banking package that seems perfectly workable as long as you don't have to do anything too complicated.

I was soon able to hop between accounts without too much hassle, while moving quantities of money from place to place without apparently losing any en-route.

Other people have not been so fortunate.

Barclays' online service is a quagmire of confusion that has left several friends and colleagues baffled. I watched a couple of friends try for ages to get access without success.

They simply got bounced out without any recourse.

In the interests of research, I opened an online-access business account with Barclays.

But nine weeks after making my first payment into the account, I am still unable to gain access through the internet.

Despite promises of troublefree internet access from my Barclays personal business manager, Barclays' online banking call centre told me it was unable to provide me with a means to use the online service.

Further information has been refused and so has online access to my funds.

The other High Street banks are not much better.

There is little sign of accountopening facilities online. The on the Lloyds TSB web site insisted I visit a local branch to open an account before they would even consider accepting my business.

In these days of internet everything, this is a little short-sighted. What about it Lloyds TSB, do you want our business?

Some credit card companies seem a lot better equipped to handle internet transactions.

Maybe this is because they recognised from the outset people were really going to want to conduct their business online.

My personal favourite, Marbles, offers a brilliant web-based service that has never failed me.

Everything works beautifully and has done from the start. Access has never been denied and transactions are processed quickly and efficiently.

Marbles' statements are easy to understand and can be queried in seconds if required.

In addition to a credit card, Marbles was quite happy to offer me a loan, travel insurance and additional finance as I wanted it.

Interest rates can be a little higher for online services but I can't understand why when the bulk of the administration is carried out automatically.

Perhaps online accounting today is like those early pocket calculators - initially expensive but the price dropped sharply as the number of users went up.

Have a look at online banking and see what you make of it.

With a little shopping around, it is quite possible to put together a workable collection of products that will give you excellent service.