Although electronic banking is rapidly overtaking direct bank-to-customer and bank-to-bank contact - and seems to be moving forward without serious problems - the law governing this telecommunication-based business is not always clearly defined in relation to certain issues that arise with ever-greater frequency, especially in cross-border transactions. This book investigates the applicable legal consensus for this issue, based on existing legislation and relevant judicial decisions. The legal issues in question arise from events, activities, and actualities treated in this book. Eighteen authors - bankers, lawyers, and academics - contribute their expertise to elucidate the issues and their implications. They draw their legal analyses from international norms such as the UNCITRAL Model Law, relevant EC directives and draft directives, the United States Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (UETA) and E-Sign Act and other national laws, as well as from numerous court decisions in Europe and the United States. The essays are based on papers originally presented at a conference sponsored by the Law Centre for European and International Cooperation (R.I.Z.) and held at Cologne in April 2001.