Banks Never Ask...

"Banks Never Ask That" is an industry-wide campaign launched by the American Banker's Association(ABA) to educate consumers about the persistent threat of scams and fraud. They seek to educate all consumers on fraud tactics used by scammers and the best practices to avoid becoming a victim.

Each year the ABA produces a multitude of new media resources to be distributed by member banks and media outlets nationwide. It contains activities, tips, and videos for consumers to help educate themselves.

We encourage all our customers to visit the ABA's official website by clicking on the blue quoted section above.

Don't trash your cash...know what banks never ask.

Identity Theft & Phishing

The following information is from FDIC.GOV 

Internet fraudsters will try to steal your sensitive personal information. Only you have the power to safeguard your info.

The most common type of fraud on the internet is called "phishing." It's pronounced "fishing," and that's exactly what these thieves are doing: "fishing" for your personal financial information. These individuals seek to acquire things like your account numbers, passwords, or Social Security number. Any confidential information they can use for financial gain is valuable. Victims are often vulnerable individuals, but anyone can be a target of fraud.

With the sensitive information obtained from a successful phishing scam, these thieves can take out loans or obtain credit cards in your name. Fraud of any kind can do damage to your financial and personal reputation that can take years to unravel. But if you understand how phishing works and how to protect yourself, you can help stop this crime.

Here's how phishing works:

In a typical case, you'll receive an e-mail that appears to come from a reputable company that you recognize and do business with, such as your financial institution. In some cases, the e-mail may appear to come from a government agency, including one of the federal financial institution regulatory agencies.

The e-mail will probably warn you of a serious problem that requires your immediate attention. It may use phrases, such as "Immediate attention required," or "Please contact us immediately about your account." The e-mail will then encourage you to click on a button to go to the institution's Web site.

In a phishing scam, you could be redirected to a phony Web site that may look exactly like the real thing. Sometimes, in fact, it may be the company's actual Web site. In those cases, a pop-up window will quickly appear for the purpose of harvesting your financial information. In either case, you may be asked to update your account information or to provide information for verification purposes: your Social Security number, your account number, your password, or the information you use to verify your identity when speaking to a real financial institution, such as your mother's maiden name or your place of birth.

If you provide the requested information, you may find yourself the victim of identity theft.

How to Protect Yourself

• Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited request, whether it is over the phone or over the Internet. E-mails and Internet pages created by phishers may look exactly like the real thing. They may even have a fake padlock icon that ordinarily is used to denote a secure site. If you did not initiate the communication, you should not provide any information.
• If you believe the contact may be legitimate, contact the financial institution yourself. You can find phone numbers and Web sites on the monthly statements you receive from your financial institution, or you can look the company up in a phone book or on the Internet. The key is that you should be the one to initiate the contact, using contact information that you have verified yourself.
• Never provide your password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited Internet request. A financial institution would never ask you to verify your account information online. Thieves armed with this information and your account number can help themselves to your savings.
• Review account statements regularly to ensure all charges are correct. If your account statement is late in arriving, call your financial institution to find out why. If your financial institution offers electronic account access, periodically review activity online to catch suspicious activity.

You Can Fight Identity Theft – Here’s How:

• Never provide personal financial information, including your Social Security number, account numbers or passwords, over the phone or the Internet if you did not initiate the contact.
• Never click on the link provided in an e-mail you believe is fraudulent. It may contain a virus that can contaminate your computer.
• Do not be intimidated by an e-mail or caller who suggests dire consequences if you do not immediately provide or verify financial information.
• If you believe the contact is legitimate, go to the company’s Web site by typing in the site address directly or using a page you have previously book marked, instead of a link provided in the e-mail.
• If you fall victim to an attack, act immediately to protect yourself. Alert your financial institution. Place fraud alerts on your credit files. Monitor your credit files and account statements closely.
• Report suspicious e-mails or calls to the Federal Trade Commission through the Internet at www.consumer.gov/idtheft, or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.

What to do if you fall victim:

• Contact your financial institution immediately and alert it to the situation.
• If you have disclosed sensitive information in a phishing attack, you should also contact one of the three major credit bureaus and discuss whether you need to place a fraud alert on your file, which will help prevent thieves from opening a new account in your name. Here is the contact information for each bureau’s fraud division:

•  Report all suspicious contacts to the Federal Trade Commission through the Internet at www.consumer.gov/idtheft, or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT.
• What can you do?

A message from the federal bank, thrift and credit union regulatory agencies
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
National Credit Union Administration
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

*Information from www.fdic.gov 

Fraud Prevention Tips

Do not give out financial information, such as account numbers, unless you know the person or organization.
Enroll in on-line banking and check it on a daily basis.

Watch for websites that contain (https:) to indicate it is a secure site.
Report lost or stolen checks immediately to your financial institution.

Notify your bank of any suspicious phone inquiries asking for personal account information.
Protect your ATM Personal Identification Number and ATM receipts.

Shred financial information and bank statements before disposing of them.
Put outgoing mail in an official postal service collection box.

Check bills regularly for questionable charges and contact the company if a bill fails to reach you.
Contact major Credit Reporting agencies periodically to review your file and determine if the information is correct.

Contacts for Identity Theft

If you think you may be a victim of Identity Theft please contact one of our Personal Bankers for assistance.

Federal Trade Commission Resources

Visit ftc.gov for more resources on all things identity theft. Click FTC Scam Alerts to see the Federal Trade Commission's current list of scams.