There is no reason why people "of any age" cannot make use of online banking facilities offered by banks, according to HSBC.

Nick Staib, a spokesperson for the group, commented that as long as consumers have the ability to send an email to someone, operating internet banking services should not be an issue for them.

"They can log-in to see their bank account details, they can make payments and pay bills," he added.

The UK payments association Apacs five-year growth statistics for online banking suggests that the number of adults in Britain that make use of internet banking services has increased by some 174 per cent, with a rise from 6.2 million in 2001 to 17 million in 2006.

Included in these results was the suggestion of a large increase in internet banking usage by elderly people, indicated by a 350 per cent rise in over-55s using such services.