Security Awareness

Awareness & Education Program

The Citizens Bank is committed to protecting your personal information. The Citizens Bank will NEVER request personal information by phone, email or text messaging including account numbers, personal identification information, passwords or any other confidential customer information.

Check out our page on Check Washing Fraud

Internet Banking Security

• Never share or give out your Access ID, User Name, Password, or Security Challenge Questions & Answers
  
• Do not use personal information in your Access ID, User Name & Password such as birth date, or names of family members and pets
  
• Create difficult passwords that include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
  
• Change your password frequently
  
• Avoid using public computers and public WiFi (restaurants, stores or hotels, for example) to access your Internet Banking
  
• Do not provide any personal information to web sites that do not use encryption or other secure methods of protection
  
• Ensure that your computer is equipped with up to date anti-virus software protection
• Ensure that your computer is running a supported operating system with the latest service packs and updates installed, and that all third party software is up to date.

Commercial Banking Internet Security

• Perform your own internal risk assessment & evaluation on all online accounts
  
• Establish internal policies regarding employee internet usage
  
• Ensure all company computers are equipped with up to date anti -virus protection software

Identity Theft Tips

• Use different passwords on all accounts and your PC that are difficult to guess
  
• Do not keep passwords on you and don't write such information on debit or ATM cards
  
• Shred all documents that contain confidential information, receipts, credit card solicitations, expired cards, statements, bills and invoices that contain personal information, and pay stubs.
  
• Review your monthly statement promptly and carefully
  
• Secure confidential information you keep at home
  
• Cancel old and unwanted cards
  
• Don't give private information to anyone unless you are positive you know the person and they have legitimate reasons for asking
  
• Never lend your password to anyone
  
• Periodically check your credit report
  
• Do not allow your credit card out of your sight while paying for products and services
  
• Do not leave your wallet/purse/checkbook in your car

How Does the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (also known as Regulation E) Apply to Your Accounts with Internet Access?

What is an EFT?

• Point of sale transfers
  
• Automated teller machine transfers (ATM)
  
• Direct deposit or withdrawals of funds
  
• Transfers initiated by telephone
  
• Transfers resulting from debit card transactions, whether or not initiated through an electronic terminal
  
• Transfers initiated through internet banking/bill pay

Exclusion from Regulation E Protection

• Checks
  
• Check guarantee or authorization
  
• Wires or other similar transfers through Fedwire
  
• Securities and commodities transfers
  
• Automatic transfers by account-holding institutions
  
• Any preauthorized transfer to or from an account if the assets of the account holding financial institution were $100 million or less on the preceding December 31 and
  
• Telephone - initiated transfers. Any transfer of funds that:
  
  • Is initiated by a telephone communication between a consumer and a financial institution making the transfer; and
    
  • Does not take place under a telephone bill payment or other written plan in which periodic or recurring transfers are completed

Corporate Customer Awareness

Tips:

1. Create an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), if you don't already have one, and require your employees to sign at least annually
   
2. Require each employee who uses Internet banking to go through security awareness training at least annually
   
3. Run background checks on all employees prior to hire
   
4. Ensure all computer systems have up-to-date antivirus software
   
5. Implement a process to ensure software updates and patches are applied frequently
   
6. Implement an Intrusion Detection/Prevention System to protect your network
   
7. Restrict Internet traffic on the systems used for Internet activities
   
8. Implement an email SPAM filter to help eliminate potentially harmful or unwanted e-mail messages from making it to the end users' inboxes
   
9. Configure workstations to auto lock after a period of inactivity
   
10. Secure wireless traffic using industry approved encryption

Unsolicited Client Contact

• Suspected fraudulent activity on your account
  
• Inactive/dormant accounts
  
• To notify you of a change or disruption in service
  
• Explanation and or assistance in the Bounce Protection Program; or
  
• To confirm changes submitted to your online banking profile

The Citizens Bank Contact

Security Resources