Holiday Closing: All First Federal Savings Bank branches will be closing at noon March 29 in observance of Good Friday. Drive-ups will re-open from 3-6 PM. ATMs and mobile banking will be available 24/7. Remote Deposit Capture, Merchant Capture and Wires will not be processed after 12pm today 3/29/2024.

Security

Fraud is prevalent in today's world. Although more and more information is stored online, studies indicate that a stolen wallet or purse is still one of the top explanations for how identify theft occurs. Always protect your personal property and if something happens to your purse or wallet, contact us immediately.

Identity Theft

If you feel you have become a victim of identity theft:

  • Contact the institution holding the account you have potentially compromised.
  • Change all online passwords, starting with the password related to the information you divulged.
  • Monitor your credit report for fraudulent inquiries and activity.
  • Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit their website.

Check Fraud

Checks are still one of the easiest ways to commit fraud. Be on the lookout for potential fraudulent checks made payable to you. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

One example of this is receiving checks in the mail accompanied by a letter stating that you have won the lotter and all you need to do is cash the check at your financial institution and wire back a processing fee for the transaction. In the end, the check is no good and you are responsible for that check. You could potentially be out thousands of dollars.

Individuals that are abroad that state that they sell good in the United States, but aren't able to receive payment because they don't have a bank account in the US is another frequently used form of check fraud. The individual may say that they will allow you to keep a percentage of the sale if you would be willing to be the recipient of these payments in forms of checks and traveler's checks. They will then give you wiring instructions for sending the payment to them. Be cautious of this because these checks are fraudulent.

Debit Card Fraud

First Federal Savings Bank provides many fraud prevention services to protect you and your accounts.

Transaction Verification

Any transaction made on your card that would be considered abnormal for your card usage trends will generate a phone call, text message, or email to you for transaction verification. This feature is automatically added to your card, so it is important to keep your contact information updated with First Federal Savings Bank. You will need to subscribe for text message alerts as standard messaging rates apply.

Card Valet

Another fraud prevention feature is the Card Valet app. This is available to download via Google Play or the App Store. With this app you are able to:

  • Turn your cards on and off.
  • Put on a travel notification.
  • Set location-based controls to limit card usage.
  • Restrict card usage based off merchant type.
  • Establish card transaction limits.
  • Set thresholds for transaction amounts. (Not to exceed the standard bank limit.)
  • Schedule alerts for specific transaction types.
  • Set spending controls for linked cardholders.

Internet Fraud

Phishing emails are an increasingly prevalent form of internet fraud. Phishing emails are used to obtain an individual's personal information by stating that you need to update personal account information or payment instructions by clicking on the link provided in the email. It is always good practice to never click on a link in an email to access any type of account. Instead, type in the website address manually so that you know you are going to the company's legitimate website.

At First Federal Savings Bank, we have taken every precaution to ensure that your account information is held safely and securely. We encourage you to be diligent in protecting your identity and account information.

Vishing

Another form of fraud happens via phone. Scammers will make random phone calls stating there is a potential problem with a debit or credit card. Their main goal is to get your debit or credit card number and pin. While First Federal does have fraud protection on our cards, we will never ask you for your full card number or your pin.