Hackers and Identity Thieves are finding banks are typically very hard to hack into. Because of this the bad guys are now targeting the bank customer because they know most customers do not have the security resources a financial institution may have. As a result, Bank customers need to take an active role in protecting their privacy. Banks use a combination of safeguards to protect customer data, which allows them to detect unusual spending patterns and protect accounts. Customers also play an important role in safeguarding personal financial information.

To help ensure the safety of personal information, customers should follow these tips:

• Create c0mplic@t3d_p@$$w0rd$. Avoid birthdays, pet names and simple passwords like 12345. It is also important to change passwords at least three times a year. Because friendly theft – theft by someone the victim knows – is the most common type of identity theft or fraud, don’t share your passwords with family members and be mindful of who has access to your personal information.
  

• Continually monitor accounts. Check account activity and online statements often, instead of waiting for the monthly statement. You are the first line of defense because you know right away if a transaction is fraudulent. If you notice unusual or unauthorized activity, notify your bank right away.
  

• Protect yourself online. Be sure computers and mobile devices are equipped with up-to-date anti-virus and malware protection. Never give out your personal financial information in response to an unsolicited email, no matter how official it may seem. Your bank will never contact you by email asking for your password, PIN, or account information. Only open links and attachments from trusted sources. When submitting financial information on a website, look for the padlock or key icon at the top or bottom of your browser, and make sure the Internet address begins with “https.” This signals that your information is secure during transmission.
  

• Protect your home or business network. If you don’t use a router at home or your business, you have given just about anyone access into your home or business. A router is an important step in network protection as it serves as a physical firewall to the network at your home or business (essentially a digital door with a deadbolt). If you decide to use a router with wireless capability, make sure you secure it with at least WPA2 Encryption instead of leaving it as a password-less, or “Open” network. An open network lets anyone with a wireless connection to be able to have access to anything you do on your network. Also, make sure you change any default passwords on your router using the guidelines from the passwords section above.
  

If your become a victim of fraud and you suspects that your personal information has been compromised, the following steps should be taken by you, our customer:

• Call your bank and credit card issuers immediately so necessary steps can be taken to protect accounts.
  

• A police report should be filed and the fraud units of the three credit-reporting companies should be contacted.
  

• A “victim statement” should be placed in credit reports.
  

• Make sure to maintain a log of all the contacts you make with authorities regarding the matter. Write down names, titles, and phone numbers in case you need to re-contact them or refer to them in future correspondence.
  

• For more advice, contact the FTC’s ID Theft Consumer Response Center at
  1-877-ID THEFT (1-877-438-4338) or http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft.