Barclays offers US online savings account

Depositing money into a savings account is only the first step toward personal finance empowerment. The fees and features of that account are equally important to your saving strategy. As the year begins, you should think about where your savings are and how they might best work for you, no matter what your age.

Federal regulators and the U.S. banking industry have blocked several attempts by Walmart to offer banking services at its 8,500 retail stores nationwide.  But Walmart hasn't given up yet:

Saving money for a specific near-term goal, say a dream vacation or a home, can be easy. You know what you want, you know about how much you need, and you know when you need it. Becoming a lifelong saver, however, requires a bit more discipline and a commitment to changing spending habits.

Money is tight these days. Last year, U.S. civilian compensation rose by just 1.9 percent. Interest on most savings accounts is well below 1 percent. In this environment, where can a person come up with a little extra money?

It's news we've heard before — online banking is the way of the future.

A securities analyst sent a note this morning "I just received this today from a company I have used for 3 years."