Security Tips for Digital Banking
The safety and security of our members is a top priority for us. Our security measures go even further with your help! With the increased use of technology, banking online has become the most popular way to handle your finances, but if the wrong person were to gain access to your Digital Banking information, it could be detrimental to your peace of mind and your wallet. We are here to help you learn the best ways to protect yourself and keep your Digital Banking accounts safe from prying eyes. Follow these security tips to keep your Digital Banking accounts safe and secure:
Strong Password Management
We understand that trying to keep up with multiple passwords for separate accounts can get confusing and you may be tempted to use the same password across all sites, but this puts you and your information at risk. We advise creating strong, unique passwords for each of your different accounts, especially your Digital Banking account. Try using a combination of lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and even special characters to create your passwords. Never use information that is easy to guess such as your birthday or a pet’s name in creating your password. It’s also important to regularly update your passwords, that way if it were to fall into the wrong hands, you can still protect your information from being accessed. You can follow the steps in our Digital Banking Guide to change your password to something more secure. If you have trouble keeping up with multiple passwords, you could take advantage of a free and secure password manager – a repository for all of your passwords. This repository will safely store all of your account passwords, and you will only need to commit a single password to memory in order to access this archive.
Set Up Account Alerts
Enabling alerts to your device is a great way to stay ahead of your account being compromised. We offer eAlerts to notify you when certain activity takes place within your account. These alerts can be personalized to notify you when large transactions are made on your account or if your balance drops below a certain amount. These alerts will allow you to reach out to your financial institution immediately and protect your account from any further fraudulent activity. As an added layer of protection, we also offer our Falcon Fraud Prevention Services that will notify you when potential fraudulent transactions are done within your account. These notifications can be tailored to your needs by being received via call, text, and even email. Head to your Digital Banking app to opt in for our helpful Falcon Fraud Prevention Service text messages
Avoid Public Wi-Fi
While public Wi-Fi is convenient when you need to stay connected on the go, you can’t always count on it to be secure. You have no way of knowing who can see what you are sending online or who can obtain access to your information. It’s best to avoid public Wi-Fi when conducting personal business online such as when you are using Digital Banking. Consider using your cellular data or a virtual private network (VPN) when logging into Digital Banking in public. If you do choose to use public Wi-Fi, be sure the address on your browser starts with “https.” The “s” signals that the page you’re using is secure and will better protect your information from the public eye.
Watch Out for Phishing Scams
Phishing is one the most popular methods identity thieves use to gain access to personal and financial information. This kind of scam usually involves tricking you into giving up this information. Phishing scams can take different forms, but they often appear through email or text messaging. For example, you may receive an email that looks like it came from your financial institution telling you that you need to log in to your account and verify your information. Once you click the link that is attached, you are directed to a site that appears to be legit. There, you enter your banking login credentials and now the scammer has your information and access to your banking account. Robins Financial will never ask for your Digital Banking login credentials or any other personal information via email, text, or other forms of messaging. We don’t need this information to verify your identity. Check out our Scams and Fraud playlist on YouTube to learn more about phishing scams and how you can protect your personal and financial information.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Robins Financial offers multi-factor authentication options to help add an extra layer of protection to your accounts. If your financial institution offer this option and you haven’t already taken advantage of it, we recommend you do so as soon as possible. When you enable multi-factor authentication, your financial institution may text you a time-sensitive code called a Secure Access Code (SAC). SACs are 6-digit codes that are sent to one of the registered phone numbers you have on file with your institution. You may also receive an automated phone call to verify your account before you are able to log in. Make it harder for fraudsters to access your account by enabling multi-factor authentication.
There are so many new scams appearing online, so making sure our members know the necessary steps to take to protect their information is important to us. The last thing you want is for your personal or financial information to fall into the wrong hands. Follow these safety tips to keep a tight seal on your Digital Banking and protect your information.
At Robins Financial Credit Union, our mission is to enhance the financial well-being of our members and community. We honor this commitment by providing educational content to help you make the most of your finances. Read our other blog articles to help you gain the financial knowledge you need to succeed.