Security
ATM Safety
PINs and Passcodes
Privacy Policy
Patriot Act Responsibilities
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Responsibilities
Fraud
Identity Theft
Compromised Cards
Safe Banking Precautions
FDIC Insurance and CDARS*
Check Responsibility
Computer Safety
Emergency Preparedness
Safe Deposit Boxes
As the lines between home, work and banking become increasingly blurred, we understand that safety, both banking and personal, has never been a more important consideration than it is in today's society. We strive to provide a safe environment, with systems and procedures in place to safeguard both you and your assets. By working together, we can add yet another layer of protection.
We've highlighted the following safety tips to help you, and remind you, that safety should always be top of mind for you, as it is for all of us at Advantage Bank.
ATM Safety
Be aware of your surroundings when using an ATM. Be cautious of anyone who appears to be acting in a suspicious manner. It is always best to use an ATM during daylight hours, when other people are present. When possible, have a companion with you. Prepare for your transaction before approaching the ATM and leave immediately upon completing your transaction.
In addition to our Advantage Bank location ATMs, please click on the corresponding image below to find over 32,000 surcharge free ATMs within the Allpoints or MoneyPass network closest to where you live, work and shop.
PINs and Passcodes
Advantage Bank has multiple steps in place to confirm your identity and provide additional security when banking online. First, create Personal Identification Numbers and Passcodes that are easy to remember, but difficult for others to guess. It is always a good idea to use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Dates of birth, addresses and other information that could be found in personal papers should be avoided. Be sure to change your PINs and Passcodes frequently and never carry them with you.
Privacy Policy
We take our responsibility to protect your financial information seriously. As a result, we've developed a comprehensive Privacy Policy that addresses every aspect of the banking relationship we have with our customers. Review the entire privacy policy.
Patriot Act Responsibilities
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress enacted the Patriot Act that empowers law enforcement agencies to prevent, detect and prosecute terrorists and money launderers who support terrorism. As a result, Advantage Bank is required to maintain a Customer Identification Program (CIP) through which we verify the identity of our customers. These procedures are intended to protect all of us.
Advantage Bank takes these steps not only as required by law, but also because we feel it is our responsibility to our customers and to the safety of the United States economy. Please understand that we take extraordinary measures to insure that the procedures are not an inconvenience to our customers.
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Responsibilities
Section 501 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 established requirements to ensure security and confidentiality of customer information. Advantage Bank maintains an information security program to safeguard confidential customer information.
Please contact us at 1-800-837-6755 with any questions regarding the safety and security measures taken at Advantage Bank.
Fraud
Sadly, there are entire industries based on obtaining funds illegally from unsuspecting people. Sometimes referred to as scams, these operations prey on those who are unaware of the risks involved with sharing personal information. Lottery scams, account hijacking and identity theft are common approaches utilized in an attempt to illegally extract information or money. The most effective precaution that you can take is to never give money or financial account information to someone other than a trusted advisor. And remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.
Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information like your Social Security number, credit card number, or name to commit fraud or other crimes. Thieves who steal your personal information may try to secure a loan or credit card, rent an apartment, or establish phone service under your name. You may not know until you notice unauthorized charges, or a debt collector contacts you.
- Don't give your social security number or other personal credit information to anyone who contacts you.
- Tear up or shred receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.
- Do not mail bills from your own mailbox with the flag up, and watch for mail you're expecting that doesn't arrive.
- Order copies of your credit report once a year to review for accuracy. You may want to access www.annualcreditreport.com for a free credit report.
- Choose to do business with companies you know are reputable, particularly online.
- Protect your PINs and passwords (don't carry them in your wallet or purse).
Compromised Cards
A compromised card is a debit or credit card for which the card information has been illegally obtained from a vendor. As a courtesy to our customers, even though the bank is not at fault for releasing confidential account information, Advantage Bank will inform our customers when we are notified that a vendor's files have been illegally acquired. The bank will typically re-issue the debit or credit cards and discontinue old cards in order to protect the cardholder from unauthorized transactions.
Advantage Bank's VISA® credit cards guarantee maximum protection against fraud. If you notice fraudulent activity, or if your card is lost or stolen, use Advantage Access Telephone Banking (1-877-594-5835) to report it immediately to Advantage Bank.
Safe Banking Precautions
- If you suspect your identity has been stolen, call your bank and credit card issuers immediately so they can start to work on closing accounts and clearing your name.
- File a police report and call the fraud units of the three credit reporting agencies immediately. Their numbers are:
- Trans Union (800) 680-7289
- Experion (888) 397-3742
- Equifax (800) 525-6285
- Consider placing a victim-statement in your credit report.
- Make sure to maintain a log of all the contact you make with authorities regarding the matter. Write down names, titles, and phone numbers in case you need to re-contact them or refer to them in future correspondence.
- For more advice, contact the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Consumer Response Center at 1-877-ID-THEFT or www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
FDIC Insurance and CDARS*
Access multi-million dollar FDIC insurance coverage by working with just one bank you can trust. Advantage Bank is a member of a financial network called the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (CDARS) that offers insurance on your deposits over $100,000. One bank. One rate. One statement. For those deposits up to $100,000, depositors are automatically covered under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's bank coverage for customer deposits.
* Some restrictions may apply on CDARS.
Check Responsibility
Ultimately, your personal checks are your responsibility. They should be kept in a safe place and every check should be accounted for.
Computer Safety
For computer-related safety measures, contact the manufacturer of your computer or your internet and email service provider. Most likely, these sources will have valuable information on how to enhance the safety of the information being stored and shared on your personal computer. E-mail, for example is a common tool used to try and extract information from recipients, so it is always a good practice to use virus detection software and not to open emails or attachments from unknown sources. Advantage Bank will never send emails requesting personal information, ask you to verify information, or ask you to click on a special site link. Do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-837-6755 to confirm any communication we may send you. You should regularly log on to your online accounts and check your bank, credit and debit card transaction history to ensure that all entries are legitimate. When conducting business online, make sure your browser's padlock or key icon is active.
Emergency Preparedness
From flooding to tornadoes, in the Midwest, we are susceptible to a wide range of emergencies, which could make your banking office inaccessible. But even in emergency situations, Advantage Bank is here for you. An Advantage Bank debit card provides access throughout our ATM network and may be used just like a credit card at purchase. We also have the Advantage Access Voice Response Unit as well as online banking services. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with these alternative banking methods now, before an emergency happens. You'll discover how easy it is to access your funds, make payments and conduct the business normally addressed in our banking offices. See Advantage Bank's Convenient Banking brochure for more information.
Safe Deposit Boxes
We provide a variety of sizes of safe deposit boxes in which you can store important papers and documents. A safe deposit box may be a good place to store personal information, especially if you have roommates or employ outside help.
