Credit Union 1 | A Unique Concept in Financial Services

Your Security

Protect yourself from becoming a victim to identity theft. Use these helpful tips to keep your personal information safe and secure.

Online Security. Online banking certainly provides great convenience and can save you a lot of time. However, you need to be vigilant and protect your online bank account. Here are some tips on how you can protect your bank account and keep it safe from theft:

Pay Attention. Log in to your account on a regular basis, even if you don't have any transactions to do. It only takes a moment to review your information so that you know what's going on. If you do discover a problem or a discrepancy, contact Credit Union 1 immediately.
Keep It Private. Never use public computers for transactions that involve private information. Don't be tempted to do your online banking in the library or the local Internet cafe. You have no way of knowing who has access to that information or how they'll treat it. Plus, there may be keystroke loggers on the computer, which make it very easy for a thief to steal your private information.
Initiate Contact Yourself. Don't ever try to access your account through an emailed link—no matter how much that email looks like it came from your bank. These kinds of emails that request you to log into your bank account are most likely 'phishing' scams. Also, don't give out any personal information if someone who claims to be from Credit Union 1 contacts you, by email or by phone. The best way to be sure that you really are dealing with your financial institute is to always initiate the contact yourself. Click here for more information on phishing scams.
Check For Secure Connections. When you log into OnLine Express, make sure that the page where you type your info always starts with https: The 's' means that the URL is on a secure server. Never type confidential information or passwords into a non-secure page.
Change Your Password Regularly. Change your password at least once every three months. If you suspect there may be a problem, immediately change your password and call your bank. Don't share your password with anyone. Even people you trust should not have access to your online banking password.
Install Barriers. If you are doing online banking, your computer should have the following software installed:
- Firewall. Firewalls 'block the door' to your computer so 'hackers' can't access the information on your hard drive. To learn more about firewalls, click here.
- Spyware Blocker. Spyware is any program that secretly downloads onto your system when you access the Internet, often through pop-up ads or attachments. The software gathers information about you from your computer and sends it to third parties. You can learn more about spyware by clicking here.
- Anti-Virus Software. Scammers sometimes send virus 'trojan horse' programs by email, and anti-virus software installed on your system can stop these. To learn more, about the right software for you, click here.

Offline Security. Here are a few precautions to protect your financial information in your day-to-day life:

Pay Attention. As with online banking, pay attention. Don't just get your bank statement and toss it on the 'to-do' pile on your desk. Read your bank statements as soon as you get them. You can't spot a problem if you're not paying attention— and, if you don't spot an existing problem, it could cost you a great deal.
Don't Share your PIN. Don't lend your ATM/Debit card to anyone or share your PIN. And never write your PIN number on your ATM/Debit card or have it anywhere near your ATM/Debit card (in the event that your wallet gets stolen).
Shield Your Transactions. When you use your ATM/Debit card, shield the key pad so no one can see what you are keying in. Check to make sure that no hardware devices have been added to an ATM machine you're using. These devices, called 'Skimmer' devices, can record the info from the magnetic strip on your ATM/Debit card along with your PIN number. They take less than 15 seconds for the scammer to install and uninstall them. Some Skimmer devices are installed over the keypad on an ATM machine—and may include warnings, supposedly from the bank, about how this equipment is being tested. If you see anything like this, do NOT use the ATM machine
Shred Your Personal Documents. Shred old and unused checks, as well as any unwanted paper that has your bank account number on it. - Never give anyone a signed blank check.

For more information on how you can protect identity, check out 21 Tips to Protect Yourself. While the information is specifically geared towards credit card fraud, many of the tips can be applied universally to all financial transactions.