CONVENIENT - Bank anytime and just about anywhere. As long as you have a
computer with an Internet connection, our "online bank" is open
24-7-that's convenience!
SAFE & SECURE -By banking online, you can actually increase the safety
and security of your financial information because you can check your
accounts frequently, not just once a month or once a quarter. If someone
has illegally accessed your account, you will know it quickly and can take
immediate action. Frequent monitoring is the best protection for your
personal information.
RELIABLE -Your online banking transactions offer the same accuracy and
reliability as doing business via telephone or through an ATM. You can get
real-time balances and immediate transfers between accounts.
Whether conducting online transactions at your bank or simply "surfing"
the Internet, common sense precautions can help safeguard your personal
information from identity theft and account fraud.
WHAT YOUR BANK IS
DOING
GETTING STARTED
-You must first apply for online banking in order to
access your financial information online. Talk to a representative at your
bank to learn more.
SECURE AREA -In order to conduct business such as reviewing your accounts
or paying bills with your bank online, you must first enter a secure area
on your bank's website. The Internet browser on your home computer must be
able to support the level of encryption required by your financial
institution's secure online banking system. If your browser cannot support
this encryption, you may be required to install a more secure version of
your browser.
PASSWORD PROTECTION
-Before using online banking services, you must first
create a user I.D. and secret password. This assures that you, and only
you, have access to your accounts.
ENCRYPTION
-Once online with your bank, your transactions and personal
information are secured by encryption software that converts
the information into code readable by only you and your bank.
PRIVACY POLICIES -Bank privacy policies protecting your personal and
financial information are stringent and enforced. Each customer's
confidential information is treated with the utmost care, meeting or
exceeding federal and state mandates. Your trust is our business.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
There are security procedures that you can follow with your home computer
to ensure a safe online banking experience:
THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE ACCESSING ONLINE
BANKING.
ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE-Anti-virus software should be installed on all
Internet connected computers. And because new viruses are emerging daily,
it is essential to configure
your anti-virus software to both check for and update your anti-virus
signatures daily.
PATCH MANAGEMENT
-Most home computers run an operating system and
productivity software created by Microsoft. Home computers connected to
the Internet have the ability to check for available patches to fix known
exploits in these programs and operating systems. Home computers can also
be configured to automatically be notified of new patches, as Microsoft
makes them available.
ANTI-SPYWARE SOFTWARE -The term "spyware" covers a broad category of
malicious software designed to intercept or take partial control of a
computer's operating system without the informed consent of that machine's
owner or legitimate user. All home computers connected to the internet
should have a reliable program to scan for the presence of spyware on
their computers.
FIREWALLS -A firewall is a protective layer between your computer and the
rest of the Internet. There are a number of subscription based products
that are offered (McAfee, Norton, etc. as well as some free products (ZoneAlarm,
Microsoft firewall available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, etc.) At a
minimum, you should have a software firewall installed on your home
computer to prevent an outside intruder from gaining access.
USING ONLINE BANKING
PASSWORDS -Your password is the key that allows access to your financial
information. Don't use a password that is easy for others to guess e.g.
birth dates, social security numbers, mother's maiden name, child or pet
names. Instead, use a password that contains a variety of letters, numbers
and symbols and change it regularly. Do not tape it to your computer
monitor and do not file it in your rolodex under "Password."
ENCRYPTION- If you access your financial accounts through a secure web
page with your bank, the information you transmit is almost certainly
encrypted. However, email is frequently unencrypted, so even if you
access it from a secured web page, be wary of sending sensitive
information such as account numbers, passwords and other personal
information through email.
DISCONNECT- Always log off properly after you have completed your online
business. Follow the secure area exit instructions to ensure the
protection of your financial information.
SPAM WITH VIRUSES- Before opening emails or attachments, make sure they
are free of any viruses or known exploits. The best way to do this is to
make sure your anti-virus software is current and scans your email as it
is received.
PHISHING- Fraudsters will design fake websites that use a web address
deceptively close to that of a genuine business. Their goal is to lure you
into giving them personal information, such as your account number and
password. The crooks can then put charges on your credit card, steal from
your accounts and even steal your identity. Always ensure that you are
really on your bank's website before logging on. When in doubt call your
bank.
All Sites below are not a
part of Union Bank's Web Site.
LEARNING MORE
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
http://www.fdic.gov
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
http://www.federalreserve.gov
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
http://www.occ.treas.gov
Office of Thrift Supervision
http://www.ots.treas.gov
Federal Trade Commission
http://www.ftc.gov
ANTI
-VIRUS RESOURCE
McAfee Anti-virus (by Network Associates)
http://www.mcafee.com
Norton Anti-virus (by Symantic)
http://www.symantic.com
FIREWALL RESOURCES
ZoneAlarm (by ZoneLabs)
http://www.zonelabs.com
ANTI SPYWARE
AdAware (by Lavasoft)
http://www.adaware.com
Microsoft AntiSpyware
http://www.microsoft.com
(search on antispyware)
www.AmericasCommunityBankers.com
