Will a VPN slow down my internet?

There is some overhead, but with WireGuard or well-tuned OpenVPN most users can stream HD/4K and browse normally.

Is a VPN safe for banking?

Yes, especially on public Wi-Fi. Use MFA, official apps, and stay alert for phishing.

No. A VPN reduces IP-based profiling and secures traffic, but cookies and fingerprinting can still track you.