The number of consumers accessing the Internet to use financial services is continuing to rise, according to a survey released today by AC Nielsen Canada.

The survey found that 59% of all Internet users currently access online financial services. This is up two points from 2004, and represents a steady increase since 2002. Growth in the use of online financial services since 2002 has been fuelled by an increase from both female and male Internet users. In fact, female Internet users have been steadily closing the gap with their male counterparts since 2002. The growth in online financial services use by females over the past four years has outpaced the growth shown by male Internet users (+12 points and +5 points respectively since 2002).

“We know that increasing numbers of people are using the Internet on a regular basis but the continuing rise in the use of online financial services is an interesting development,” said Pam Wood, marketing director, consumer measurement services, ACNielsen Canada, in a release.

“Despite their obvious willingness to embrace the web in many other areas, consumers have appeared somewhat more hesitant about online use in the area of financial services, so the increase seen in this year’s Internet Planner suggests that this barrier is steadily decreasing.”

Checking their account balances was the top reported online service, used by 53% of all Internet users. However, the strongest gains compared to last year’s study came in the areas of paying bills (44%) and checking credit card balances (36%), both of which increased four points over 2004.

Other areas of concern to consumers detailed in the 2006 Internet Planner are security of the Internet and their suggestions on who, if anyone, should be made responsible for managing or supervising access to content on websites; and what should be done about offensive and illegal content.

The Internet Planner was based on survey responses from over 10,000 Canadian Internet users age 12 years or older of the ACNielsen Homescan consumer panel.