Tips for Protecting Your Digital Banking Account
As your trusted financial partner, we are committed to keeping our members safe and protected from fraud. Your online security is a top priority for us, and while we have numerous security measures in place, our protections go even farther when we have your help. You can defend yourself and your credit union from unnecessary risk by following these simple steps to keep your Digital Banking account and other financial information safe. Let’s work together to keep you safe from fraud.
Create Unique and Secure Login Credentials
Your login credentials include the login ID (username) and password you use to access your Digital Banking account. The login credentials you use for Digital Banking should always be unique and different from the usernames and passwords you use for any other site. To meet security requirements, your credentials should include a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Visit our Digital Banking User Guide for current security requirements for your password and login ID.
Update Your Credentials Regularly
In addition to creating a secure login ID and password for Digital Banking that you don’t use anywhere else, it’s also important to update these credentials on a regular basis to ensure they remain secure. Security experts recommend updating your login credentials every 30-90 days. While this might seem inconvenient, regularly changing your usernames and passwords helps limit your exposure to online attacks brought on by hacked and leaked credentials. You can change your password and login ID any time by following the steps provided in our Digital Banking User Guide.
Utilize Biometric Security Features
Most smart devices are embedded with biometric features such as fingerprint scanning and facial recognition. Since your face and fingerprint are entirely unique to you, these technologies prevent anyone else from gaining access to your device and apps like Digital Banking. Your Robins Financial Digital Banking app on your smartphone allows you to enable biometric security like fingerprint authentication through Touch ID. This feature scans your fingerprint to verify that it is actually you before allowing access to the Digital Banking app and prevents any unauthorized users from accessing your account.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication is used as an additional step to verify your identity before allowing access to your account, especially if you are attempting to login on a different device from what you normally use. For your Robins Financial Digital Banking account, we use multi-factor authentication in the form of Secure Access Codes (SAC). The SAC is a time-sensitive code sent to the phone number we have on file for your account, and you are then required to enter the code before proceeding in the login process. It is incredibly important that you never share your Secure Access Code with anyone. Even if you are contacted and asked for it, even by someone posing to be from your credit union, do not give out your SAC. These codes are for your use only and never to be shared with anyone else. If someone asks you to provide your SAC, report it to us immediately.
Strengthen Your Security Questions
Security questions are used to help you reset or recover your password in case you forget it or in the event that your account becomes compromised. Just like with usernames and passwords, your security questions are also at risk of being discovered by fraudsters. It’s important to make sure the security questions and answers you select aren’t based on anything that can easily be found online, especially for your Digital Banking account. The answers to common security questions like current or former zip codes, where you were born or where you grew up, your mother’s maiden name or birth place, etc. can be found in public records online. Other information can be found on your social media pages if your privacy settings are not secure, even in posts you’ve shared. Chain posts frequently circulate on social media as fun “getting to know you” or “determine your X name” posts where you’re asked to share information like the name of the street you grew up on, your children or pet’s names, the year you were born, etc. While these type of posts may seem like harmless fun, they are a potential goldmine for cybercriminals, and it’s not fun and games when this information falls into the wrong hands. It’s best to avoid sharing these types of posts or information altogether. When possible, change your security questions and answers to something only you would know. Follow these other tips for making your security questions and answers stronger.
Monitor Your Account Regularly
With Digital Banking you can securely access and monitor your account anytime, anywhere. Regularly reviewing your account activity helps you stay on top of your finances and easily detect any potential fraud and unauthorized charges. If you notice any suspicious activity on your account, report it to us immediately.
Enable Alerts on Your Account
Receiving alerts of your account activity will help you stay on top of your account and ensure you are the first to know of any suspicious activity indicating fraud. Signing up for e-Alerts allows you to receive instant notifications for your account via email or text message directly to your device. You can choose to receive alerts for events such as debit card purchases, withdrawals (automatic, ATM, check, etc.), low balance, insufficient funds, and other events that will help you detect fraud early. You can also choose to receive a daily alert of your current account balance, so you don’t have to remember to check your account every day. You can activate and manage e-Alerts for your account in Digital Banking
Only Send Money to People You Know
While we have safeguards in place to protect our members when transferring funds to another account here at the credit union, you should still only send money to people you know and verify their information before initiating the transfer. When using popular peer-to-peer payment apps or services, such Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, and others, make sure you only send money to people you know and trust.
Never Share Your Information
Above all, the most crucial step in protecting your Digital Banking account is never sharing your Robins Financial account information with anyone for any reason. That is the best way to ensure your information doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Never share your Digital Banking login ID or password, account number, Secure Access Codes, security questions and answers, debit or credit card information, or any other information associated with your Robins Financial account. If someone contacts you claiming to be from your credit union and asking for this information, do not give it to them. Robins Financial will never contact you over the phone, in a text message, on social media, or by any other means to request this information from you. We do not need it to verify you. Any attempt to get this information is a fraudulent attempt and should be reported to us immediately.
The safety and security of our members is a top priority. Protecting your information works best when we have your help. Let’s work together to keep your accounts protected. To learn more about how we protect our members every day and how you can protect yourself, review our Security and Fraud information online, and watch our Scams and Fraud playlist on YouTube.
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.