If you think banking over the Internet is the latest trend, you may be in for some surprises, and for some revolutionary new ways to conduct your daily financial transactions using pre-paid cards, credit and debit cards, and cell phones.

However, while these services can provide benefits, they also can present questions and concerns about security.

To help introduce you to new forms of technology in banking, the FDIC offers this overview:

Cards with pre-loaded value: These cards come in several varieties that serve different purposes.

Gift cards: think of them as high tech gift certificates. Some are for use at a specific store. Others are "universal" that generally can be used at any retailer.

You should always read disclosures carefully and ask, for example, does the card have an expiration date, or if fees will be deducted when the card is used--or not used.

Debit/credit cards issued by financial institutions for use at a variety of businesses and ATMs: They can generally be used by most retailers instead of checks. they can also be used to obtain cash from ATMs.

Pre-paid debit cards are especially useful as substitutes for travelers checks.

Payroll checks: With these, an employer deposits salary or benefit payments into a bank account, primarily good as substitutes for paychecks for employees who don't have a bank account and might otherwise pay high fees to a check cashing business.

Debit cards for health saving accounts: Consumers who are eligible under IRS rules for these tax-advantage savings accounts at banks and other financial institutions can save for certain medical costs.

If a pre-paid card is lost or stolen, a consumers liability for a lost card may vary depending on the type of card and who is issuing it. You need to shop around, read the card's terms and conditions, and find out what to do if you lose your card.

What may seem futuristic, may become common in only a few years. Soon you could be one of the many people using a cell phone to buy a soda!!