Security

By employing just a few basic best practices, you can stand in the way of online threats, protecting your money and your identity.

 

 

Secure Online Banking

Online banking is one of the most convenient ways to access your account(s)—but it must be accessed securely and with proper caution. As the ease of banking online increases, online identity thieves devise more ways to steal your bank and personal information. Effective safety measures include the following:

Monitor Your Accounts Weekly

• Review your accounts on a regular basis to verify that the transactions posted are ones you authorized. Report any suspicious or fraudulent activity to your bank. Monitor your accounts every few days and always after you’ve done any type of online shopping. This helps maintain that your account is being charged appropriately and is not being used for purchases you didn’t make.

Avoid Clicking Through Emails

• Regardless of email alerts and updates your financial institution may send you, you never need to click through the links to access your account. It is much safer to log in to your account manually through your bank’s website client login.
• Phishing emails send the recipient to a fraudulent version of the bank’s website, and often try to collect your username, password and other personal information while pretending to be legitimate. Please call your bank’s official phone number to verify whether they sent you an email or if they need to contact you. If an email asks you to verify your identity by providing a username or password, do not respond to it. Banks will never ask for this information via email—some banks will ask you to answer a security question at most, and they will do this over the phone with a personal banker. 

Change Passwords Regularly

• Do not use the same password across multiple sites and make sure you are selecting a strong password, mixing upper and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols. Do not use any words or phrases that contain your name, initials, or birthdate. Make sure that you change your passwords once every two months. If your bank offers further steps for a secure login, add the step(s) to your login process.

Protect Your Computer

• Run anti-virus protection software on your computer if possible. The firewall should be turned on as well to protect against any type of virus that might be downloaded and installed from a malicious site. Review different programs for your computer and consider paying for higher quality software that will provide you with protection when you are banking online, shopping online or opening emails. 

Access Your Accounts from a Secure Location

• Be diligent and avoid using unsecured wireless access points to log in to your account(s). Access important accounts only when connected to a secure network. At unsecured wireless access points, someone could easily collect the information you are using to log in.

Keep Your System Updated

• To keep online banking more secure, download appropriate updates on a regular basis for whichever device(s) you use for your online banking. Anti-virus scans should be run regularly as well. Both of these practices will be effective in keeping your online banking more secure.

Encryption 

• Once online with your bank, your transactions and personal information are secured by encryption software that converts the information into code that is readable by only you and your bank. 

Privacy Policies 

• Bank privacy policies protecting your personal information are stringent. Your confidential information is treated with the utmost care, meeting or exceeding federal and state mandates.  
• View the bank’s Privacy Policy. 

 

 

Mobile Banking Security

Mobile Banking is becoming more of a regular practice due to the ease and convenience of accessing your bank account(s) through your mobile device. Regardless, safe practices must be in place for Mobile Banking also to ensure the security of your information.

Set Up Alerts and Check Your Balances

• Set up text message, email, or app alerts for notifications about your bank account(s). Alerts will give you relevant and timely updates, such as when your checking account balance is low, when a charge for a specified amount is placed on your card, and when your balance exceeds a limit you set. 

Protect Your Personal Information

• Do not share your PIN or password with anyone and avoid saving them on your mobile device. Do not access your account(s) on a device you share with another person.

Report Loss or Theft to Your Financial Institutions/Service Providers as Soon as It Occurs

• If you lose your mobile device, don’t forget to report the loss to your financial services provider as well as your mobile provider. 

Remove Sensitive Information from Your Old Phone or Device

• Delete your data and information off an old phone if you get a new phone or device. Names of banks or credit unions, passwords or other clues that have been left on your old device could be used to compromise your personal information.

Use Secure Websites or Apps

• Don’t log into your accounts through links that you receive from an email address or a website that you don’t recognize. Always try to use a private network when connected to free or public Wi-Fi and go to a secure site that begins with “https.”