Protecting Your Information Online
Criminals are finding new ways to target consumers online every day. You can control the risk of being a victim of online attacks by following these simple steps:
Never share your login credentials or passwords with anyone
This goes for any and all online accounts, but especially your digital banking account. There is no need to ever give someone else access to your digital banking account, debit or credit card information, or any other online account credentials. No legitimate business, job offer, or financial institution will ask for your digital banking credentials. Your digital banking username and password are specific to your unique account, and are not intended to be shared with anyone else; not even family members or close friends. If you provide your login information to someone else, they then have full access to your entire account.
As a reminder, Robins Financial Credit Union will never ask you to provide your usernames, passwords, or Secure Access Codes over the phone, via email, or through text messages. We will also never initiate contact with you to request account details; we already have that information. If you receive such an attempt, please contact the credit union immediately.
Use different and complex usernames and passwords for each app and site you access
Don’t use the same password for all of your different accounts. When you repeat the same password across multiple accounts, it makes it that much easier for someone else to access any of your other accounts with that one password. The last thing you want is for someone to determine your digital banking account login because you use the same password for another online account that was compromised. Your digital banking password should always be different from any other password you use anywhere else.
Complex passwords, as recommended by security experts, include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, and are at least 12 characters long. And you should never use identifying information in your passwords, especially information that can easily be found online. This includes parts of your name or birthday, the name or birthday of family members or pets, or current or past addresses. You should also never include any portion of your Social Security Number, financial account number, or credit card number in any passwords.
Use strong, randomized, passwords
Creating passwords strong enough to meet security requirements can seem like a hassle, but it is only for your protection. There are several random password generator options out there that can assist you with creating strong, unique passwords. A password generator will automatically create a random password that is secure enough to meet the requirements. This is the best way to ensure that your passwords can’t be guessed.
Change your usernames and passwords on a regular basis
Security experts recommend that you change your passwords every few months. This might seem inconvenient, but in addition to not using the same login credentials on every website, changing your usernames and passwords on a regular basis will limit your exposure and risk of being the victim of an online attack. You can change your Digital Banking passwords anytime using our Forgot Password self-serve form.
Be mindful of the information you share
Even when you don’t think you’re sharing personal information, you still could be. Most of us have seen those fun “getting to know you” type of posts that circulate on social media, where you’re asked to share the name of the street you grew up on, your children or pets names, your mother’s maiden name, etc. While this information may seem harmless, it’s not just fun and games when this information falls into the wrong hands. These are common security questions and answers, which could be used to access your accounts. It’s best not to share these types of posts or information at all.
Your security online is a priority for us, and it’s much easier to protect your accounts when we work together. For more security and fraud tips, watch our Scams and Fraud playlist on YouTube, or review our Security and Fraud information online. Check out our Security Resolutions article for more helpful ways to increase your online security.