Between the recent Yahoo, Facebook, Neopets, and LinkedIn data breaches, close to four billion consumers have had their personal information stolen. While the size of these digital heists is unprecedented, they’re nothing new for modern consumers.
Since the early 90s, criminals have been stealing online customer data, leveraging credit cards or social security info for billions in ill-gotten gain. And, of course, the banking industry is no stranger to these attacks. At Planters First Bank, our top priority is the security and protection of our customers' information. That's why we are pleased to offer professional advice and a range of cyber security services to keep your personal and financial data online safely.
Here are some steps you can take to protect your information:
- Use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts
- Don't click on links or download attachments from unknown sources
- Enable two-factor authentication when possible
- Keep your software and devices up to date with the latest security updates
- Avoid using public WiFi networks for sensitive activities
For more privacy and security tips, visit our Security Center!
BEST PRACTICES FOR ONLINE BANKING SECURITY
Use strong, complete passwords that contain:
- Alpha/numeric characters and symbols
- Upper and lower case characters
- Minimum of 8 characters but longer is recommended
- No real words or names of family/friends/pets
- Use entire keyboard; avoid strings of identical characters
- Change your passwords regularly and use a different password for each website you access.
- Never reveal your confidential login ID, password, PIN or answers to security questions to anyone.
- Never bank online using computers at kiosks, cafes, unsecured computers, or unsecured wireless networks.
- Prohibit the use of shared user names and passwords for your online banking accounts.
MOBILE ALERTS
With our real-time alerts, monitoring your account activity is easy. Set account and transaction alerts to help you manage your money and your account at all times.
- Set up email, text, and push notifications to detect activity
- Notify yourself when you’ve reached a certain account balance
- Customizable alerts for added security and peace of mind
- Set up Bill Pay reminder
Click here to learn more about setting an alert
MYCARD RULES
Control is good. Today you can control your TV … your thermostat … even your lights, right from your mobile device. And now you can get that same kind of control over your Planters First Bank debit cards. What you can do with MyCard Rules...
- Turn your card on and off
- Set per-transaction spending limits based on various factors such as dollar amount, transaction type, or merchant type
- Receive alerts on all transaction attempts declined
- Set other instant alerts on all or select transactions
- Set a location boundary where the card can be used
- Set parental or employer controls and monitoring
- Receive Text Notification
Click here to learn more about MyCard Rules
COMMERCIAL BANKING ONLINE SECURITY
While it is your responsibility to safeguard your own data, including information that can be used to access or transact against your accounts at Planters First Bank, we recommend that you consider implementing the following data security-related rules or controls for your business:
PROTECT ONLINE PAYMENTS & ACCOUNT DATA
- Evaluate your internal controls for online banking and conduct an annual risk assessment. Identify gaps and continuous improvement opportunities to ensure the safety of your financial data and resources.
- Dedicate and restrict one computer to online banking transactions; allow no Internet browsing or e-mail exchange and ensure this computer is equipped with latest versions and patches of both anti-virus and anti-spyware software.
- Segregate responsibilities among different employees by maintenance, entry and approval.
- Delete online user IDs as part of the exit procedure when employees leave your company.
- Assign dual system administrators for online cash management services.
- Periodically evaluate employee job functions and remove online services.
- Establish transaction limits for employees who initiate and approve online payments.
- Set up alerts to notify manager of payments initiated above a threshold amount that warrant management’s attention.
- Use dual controls; require multiple users to release an online payment because it is less likely a fraudster would control the workstation of both initiating employees.
- Reconcile by carefully monitoring account activity and reviewing all transactions initiated by your company on a daily basis.
- Use separate accounts for electronic and paper transactions to simplify monitoring and tracking any discrepancies.
BUSINESS ONLINE BANKING: POSITIVE PAY®
While checks may be waning in popularity, check fraud is still responsible for billions in theft each year. As a must-have digital fraud detection tool for your Business, Positive Pay® helps prevent losses from check fraud by providing Planters First Bank with a list of your issued checks to compare each number and amount with the ones we have on file – stopping fraudsters in their tracks.
By offering the convenience of the Internet coupled with a powerful set of tools, Planters First Bank Treasury Management enables you to completely manage all of your banking needs. Click here to learn more.
TIPS TO AVOID PHISHING, SPYWARE AND MALWARE
- Don’t open e-mail from unknown sources.
- Never respond to suspicious e-mail or click on any hyperlink embedded in a suspicious e-mail.
- Call the purported source if you are unsure who sent an email.
- Educate your staff about current scams and loss-prevention steps.
- Make sure all of the computers your staff members use for work-related business – at the office and at home – have the latest versions and patches of both anti-virus and anti-spyware software.
- Maintain updated and patched systems and software.
- Install a firewall between your computers and the Internet
- Restrict administrative rights to install programs to IT staff.
- Check your settings and select at least a medium level of security for your browsers.
- Clear the browser cache before starting an online banking session to eliminate copies of Web pages that have been stored on the hard drive.
There is no substitute for the advice of experts with intimate knowledge of your operations. We at Planters First Bank recommend that you obtain data security and anti-fraud advice from such experts.