Blog Post

With all sorts of digital fraud, it is easy to forget the value of keeping printed personal or financial information secure. What you do with such documents can either greatly increase or decrease the security of your personal information and the likelihood of identity theft.

PINs and Social Security Numbers

Store your Social Security Card, account numbers, PINs (Personal Identification Numbers), user IDs, and passwords in a secure place where only you can access them. Do not keep them in a wallet, or any place where they can be easily viewed, lost, or stolen. Do not include your driver's license number, Social Security number, or phone number on pre-printed checks.

Statements

Identifying discrepancies or fraud early can help stop any additional charges from occurring. Check your account statements regularly to ensure you can identify each transaction. The best way to monitor your accounts is through digital banking which shows each transaction as it happens. If you discover a transaction that you did not make, contact your financial institution immediately. Waiting to notify your bank or credit union may allow for more unauthorized transactions to be made.

Consider going paperless with eStatements. Statements contain personal and banking information that can be used for identity theft. eStatements allow you to stop receiving paper statements in the mail and receive them electronically. We suggest you check with each company you receive statements from, to verify that its statements are sent through a secure system. eStatements keep your information more secure, as it will not get lost in the mail, or misplaced. To sign up for MembersAlliance eStatements, sign on to your account through digital banking.

Bills

If you receive bills by mail, it is important to know your billing cycles to make sure you receive your bills. If there is any interruption in receiving your bills, contact the billing company immediately.

Consider paying your bills electronically and skip sending your payments through the mail. As with electronic statements, we suggest that you check with your billing companies to make sure that their bill payment sites and systems are safe and secure. Learn more about our online bill payment by clicking here.

Checks

If you are expecting new checks, always make sure you receive them in a timely manner. The average time to receive checks is usually 7 – 10 business days. If you do not receive your checks by then, contact your financial institution.

When you receive your checks remember to store them in a secure place. Keep track of any outstanding checks with their check numbers and amounts. If you are missing checks, please contact your financial institution as soon as possible. Checks contain your full bank account number, name, and address which can be used for fraudulent purposes.

Mail

Always check your mailbox for new mail. If you notice that you have stopped receiving mail, contact your post office immediately. It is also a good practice to send outgoing mail through the post office directly or a secure post office box.

Request a hold on your mail and/or newspaper if you are planning to be away from your home for an extended period. Contact your post office and newspaper company to do so. In addition, you can also contact your financial institution to set up a seasonal address for your accounts.

Shred old mail and any papers that have personal information and/or financial information on them; this includes credit card statements, bank statements, offers for pre-approved credit, etc. MembersAlliance hosts a free Shred Day in the spring and fall to provide an opportunity to our local community to safely shred any personal documents.

Keeping documents containing your personal and banking information secure and quickly identifying and reporting out of the ordinary occurrences are ways you can ensure the safety of your personal information. For more security tips and information visit our Fraud and Scams blog section.