The Account for You
We have a variety of different checking account options to fit your specific needs.
Fraud & ID Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information to establish credit or purchase items in your name. Here are some important facts, tips and reminders to help protect you.
- Safeguard your financial information such as checking and credit card numbers and Social Security number. Unless you know the person or organization you're dealing with, don't give it out
- Report lost or stolen checks immediately. Review new deliveries of checks to make sure none have been stolen in transit
- Notify the bank of suspicious phone inquiries such as those asking for account information to "verify a statement" or "award a prize"
- Shred financial solicitations or financial statements before disposing of them
- Deposit your mail into a secure official Postal Service collection box
- If regular bills fail to reach you, call the company to find out why. Someone may have filed a false change of address notice to divert your mail and steal your identity
- If your bills include questionable items, investigate immediately. This is often the first sign of Identity theft fraud
- Avoid phishing scams. Never reply directly or click on a link in response to an email that asks for personal or financial information. If you are concerned about your account, contact the company or institution via a web site you know to be genuine
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Purchase, install and use an advanced computer Anti-Virus software product to protect your computer and personal information from being compromised
Measures Your Bank Takes
- Privacy Policies - Our privacy policies protect your personal and financial information. These policies are stringent and enforced, with employee training provided regularly
- Internal Confidentiality - Access to nonpublic information about you is limited to employees who need to know that information to provide you with products and services
Free Credit Report: Fast Facts
You can get your report at www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228. You can also contact the credit reporting companies:
- Equifax (www.equifax.com) o 800-685-111
- Experian (www.experian.com) o 888-397-3742
- TransUnion (www.transunion.com) o 800-888-4213
Order from all three, since each one derives its information from different sources. Some experts advise staggering them over the course of one year to keep track of your status with a free report every four months
You can also get a free report if:
- A company takes adverse action against you, such as denying you credit
- Your report is inaccurate because of fraud
- You are unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days
- You are on welfare
If you find inaccuracies in the report:
- Tell the credit reporting company. They must investigate right away and must forward your data to the company that provided the inaccurate information
- Tell the creditor in writing that you dispute the item
- An employer or prospective employer cannot get a copy of your report without your written consent
Checklist for victims of identity theft
- File a police report
- Contact your banker
- Notify credit bureau fraud units
- Place a fraud alert statement on your credit report
- Request credit bureaus to identify accounts closed (due to fraud) as "closed at consumer's request"
- Request free credit reports (fraud victims are entitled to two free credit reports from each of the credit bureaus)
- Report check theft to check verification companies
- Check post office for unauthorized change of address requests
- Follow-up contacts with letter and keep copies of all correspondence
Additional Information
For more information on the prevention of Identity Theft visit www.FTC.gov or call (877) 382-4357.
Consumers may file identity theft reports by calling (877) 438-4338.
Checking account security
A significant number of check fraud losses that occur involve customer accounts. In order to avoid becoming a victim of fraud schemes, you need to know about the existence and consequences of fraud, proper check issuing and timely statement reconcilement. Following is a brief list of checking account protection tips.
- Guard your checkbook and extra checks
- Never give your account and routing numbers to people you do not know, especially to anyone over the telephone
- Never use your deposit slip for "scrap" paper or notes. Guard your deposit slips
- Properly store or dispose of canceled checks
- If your checkbook is lost or stolen, immediately inform us
- Always write checks using a black or blue ink pen - never pencil
- Write the payee name and the dollar amount in both numbers and letters, as far to the left in the allotted space as possible and draw a line through the unused space to the right of the letters and numbers to prevent additions
- When writing the payee name on the "pay to order of" line, make sure the name is spelled out so it cannot be altered
- Balance or reconcile your check book register monthly with the form provided on the back of your bank statement
ATM / Debit card security
- Memorize your PIN, Don't tell anyone your PIN or account number. Never write your PIN on your card or anything you carry with or near your card
- Never let anyone see you enter your PIN
- Never loan your card to anyone
- Check your cards regularly to ensure you have them
- Carry your cards secured safely in your wallet or purse
- Retain card receipts and carbon copies which carry your account number
- Review your bank statement promptly when you receive it and verify each transaction
- Record the card number and necessary phone numbers for reporting its loss or theft
- Report lost or stolen cards immediately. You can greatly reduce fraudulent transactions by reporting it quickly
If you believe that your card has been compromised, notify the bank at 417-935-2293. After regular business hours, please call 800-791-2525.
