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Customer Education

What you should know.


From unemployment to phishing, scams are on the rise.  You work hard for your money, and we want to help make sure it does not end up in someone else's hands.  When we learn of new scams you should know about, we will post information here to help you keep your money safe and your personal information private.  
Identify theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud, obtaining loans and access to funds under your name.  Identity theft is a serious issue, costing an estimated $50 billion a year in the United States.  There are regulations designed to protect your rights if you are a victim of identity theft, but it is still your responsibility to enact those protections by taking action as soon as you believe your identity has been stolen.  For example, you should freeze your accounts and place a fraud alert with all three credit reporting agencies.  What else should you do?  Check out this guide which gives you step-by-step instructions and contact information to help right this wrong. 

The BaZing feature on our Rewards and Select checking accounts comes with ID Theft Aid to help you in this endeavor.  If you are not using one of these checking account types, it may be time to open one.  
Safeguard your information by selecting long and strong passwords.  Some recommendations:
  • At least 12 characters
  • Avoid using passwords used on other accounts
  • Avoid using common words
  • Use a phrase or random words
  • Use a password manager to keep track of your passwords
  • Check out other online security tips from the Federal Trade Commission.

Phishing is defined as the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.  Phishing is often a culprit in many of the large company computer hacks you hear about almost daily now.  Visit the Federal Trade Commission for great tips on how to recognize and avoid phishing scams.
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