Asking which type of bank is better is like asking which of the Star Wars movies is best. Although The Empire Strikes Back is clearly the best, some Jar Jar-loving freaks out there would sooner die than admit The Phantom Menace isn’t the best.

Regardless if Internet banks are better or not, they certainly should be an option for you to consider. Historically, the biggest reason to migrate your moola to these mortarless machinations is to obtain higher interest rates and lower fees. Internet banks can do this because they don’t have the overhead of physical structures such as bank buildings or ATM machines to support.

The biggest drawback of Internet-only banks is that you will never be able to berate anybody in person when you have a problem. The closest you’ll get is 24/7 phone support, and some Internet banks don’t even provide that.

Not having a location you can go to in person also gives rise to another drawback: immediacy. If you need a cashier’s check right away to pay off Guido, an Internet bank will not be able to help you. Also, any non-payroll deposits will not be available for immediate withdrawal.

Getting cash is rarely a problem, however, as you can just use the nearest ATM. In addition, most Internet banks have agreements with credit unions so you can use credit union ATMs without risk of fees.

Speaking of credit unions, don’t forget these as an option in your banking strategy. Many times, interest rates and fees are equivalent between credit unions and Internet banks, though they may require a higher minimum balance to get that higher rate.

But let’s say none of these drawbacks are a problem for you. How do you go about finding the perfect Internet bank to stash your cash? Why don’t you try out the major ones for starters:

E*Trade (bank.etrade.com), Everbank (www.everbank.com), HSBC Direct (www.hsbcdirect.com), ING Direct (www.ingdirect.com), and Washington Mutual (www.wamu.com)

And there are literally dozens more. Search for “internet banks” or “internet banking” or “online banks” to see what comes up. Just remember to read the fine print.

Some final questions to ask yourself before you sign up: Does the checking account allow you to have a checkbook? Although we geeks would love a paperless world, the truth is that checks aren’t going away anytime soon.

Is that amazing interest rate just an introductory rate? That five percent rate doesn’t look so hot when it goes down to 0.05% after three months.

Is the bank FDIC insured? I, for one, wouldn’t trust the First Internet Bank of PropellerHeads if I were you.

And finally, which is the best Star Wars movie?