comScore Networks released a study that found online banking grew to nearly 40 million during Q4 2005, a 27 percent increase from last year. comScore also reported that usage of online bill payment services grew 36 percent during the same period.

"Consumers continue to migrate to online banking, with the nation's largest banks attracting more than 8.5 million new online banking customers in 2005," says Serge Matta, director of comScore Financial Services Solutions.

The study found that free banking products and services were incentives for consumers to join online banking.