Banking security has never been more critical today, when technology plays a significant role in our daily lives. Kelly Pickle, the Director of Enterprise Risk at Heritage Bank NA, recently appeared on KWLM’s ‘Ask the Expert’ segment. She highlights how community banks, like Heritage Bank, are taking significant steps to protect their customers from cyber threats and fraud. At Heritage Bank, we take safeguarding your financial information very seriously.
Why Banking Security Matters
Protecting your financial data is crucial as we navigate a digital-first landscape. With the rise in use of online banking, consumers face various risks, including identity theft and fraud. Heritage Bank is committed to ensuring you can confidently manage your money, knowing your sensitive information is secure.
Cybersecurity at Community Banks
At Heritage, our approach to safeguarding your digital assets involves a combination of advanced technology, continuous monitoring, and customer education.
- Advanced Encryption: We utilize encryption technology to secure your online banking activities, making it harder for unauthorized users to access your information.
- Firewalls & Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This adds an extra layer of security. Even if someone obtains your password, they cannot access your account without a second form of verification.
- Real-Time Fraud Monitoring: Our systems continuously monitor your transactions for unusual activity, enabling us to take prompt action if suspicious activity is detected.
- Regular Audits: We conduct regular security audits to ensure we don’t just meet but exceed security standards, keeping your information safe from potential threats.
- Cybersecurity Training for Employees: Our team receives ongoing training to help them recognize and mitigate potential cyber threats.
Fraud Prevention at Community Banks
Fraud prevention is at the forefront of our mission to protect our customers’ money and information. Here’s how we work to keep you safe with our secure banking practices:
- Monitoring Suspicious Transactions: Our systems continuously monitor your accounts to identify unusual activity.
- Customer Education: We believe informed customers are our best defense, since you know better than we do what you’ve authorized. We offer resources to help you recognize phishing emails and scams, empowering you to make safe choices.
- Secure Debit and Credit Cards: Our cards are equipped with EMV chip technology, enhancing security. In addition, you can freeze your card instantly within our digital banking app if you lose your card or suspect unauthorized activity.
- Identity Verification: We implement strict verification processes to prevent unauthorized access to your accounts, minimize security risks of account takeovers, and help with bank fraud protection.
Simple Steps You Can Take to Stay Safe
We take important steps to protect your information. You also play a crucial role in keeping your account secure. Here are some simple yet effective actions you can take:
- Create Strong Passwords: Use unique and complex passwords for your accounts and change them regularly. Avoid using the same password across multiple platforms.
- Security When Calling the Bank: We encourage our customers to establish security questions and answers, so we are better able to identify you when calling the bank. If you haven’t yet done this, please call today.
- Recognize & Report Scams: Stay vigilant for phishing emails or suspicious calls claiming to be from your bank. If you encounter any, report them immediately.
- Enable Alerts: Set up fraud alerts and notifications for your accounts via text or email. This enables you to monitor your transactions in real-time.
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Do not access sensitive financial information on public networks. Hackers can easily target these networks.
Wrapping Up
At Heritage Bank, we take pride in our community-oriented approach and our unwavering commitment to protecting your financial well-being. You can confidently bank with advanced security measures, educational resources, and a dedicated team that genuinely cares about your safety. We take necessary steps to protect your information. You also play a key role in keeping your account safe. We are proud of our focus on the community and are dedicated to protecting your financial health.
Remember, safeguarding your financial future is a shared responsibility. At Heritage Bank, we’re here to support you.
Helping People Succeed Financially. We see every customer as an individual and treat our customers’ businesses as our own. Our dedicated, experienced staff is there for our customers on every step of their journey.
