Security

ID Theft Protection

Rest Assured.

USB is committed to your identity protection.
Each day, criminals find new ways to steal personal information, like Social Security and driver's license numbers, so they can take over existing accounts and open fraudulent new ones. At USB, substantial measures are in place to protect your identity and your accounts against theft and fraud. Our stringent bank privacy policies protect your personal and financial information.

Below is information on how ID theft happens and what you can do to protect yourself. For additional details, tips and resources, visit the Federal Trade Commission online.

Common Ways ID Theft Happens

Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including:

Dumpster diving: They rummage through the trash looking for papers with your personal information
Skimming: They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card
Changing your address: They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a "change of address" form
Hacked shopping sites: They spend all day trying to figure out how to hack into shopping sites
Old fashioned "stealing": They steal wallets, purses and your mail, gaining access to bank and credit card statements, new checks or tax information
Fraudulent e-mails & web sites: If you receive e-mail that appears to be from Union Savings Bank and it asks you to enter your account or personal information into the e-mail or on a non-secure webpage, it is most likely a fraudulent e-mail. It has been designed with the intent to trick you into providing private information about yourself and your accounts. This practice is known as "phishing" and the number of people who fall victim to this scam is unfortunately rising

IMPORTANT NOTES:

It is not USB's practice to:

Send e-mail that requires you to enter personal information directly into the e-mail.
Send e-mail threatening to close your account if you do not take the immediate action of providing personal information.
Send e-mail asking you to reply by sending personal information.
Send e-mail asking you to enter your User ID, Password or account numbers into an e-mail or non-secure webpage.
Contact customers via email, phone or mail to request or verify security information about passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs).

How to Protect Yourself

Maximum security is possible only with your help. Here's what you can do to stop these crimes before they happen:

Shred: Shred all financial documents and paperwork containing personal information before you discard them.
Protect: Do not carry your Social Security number in your wallet or write it on a check. Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with. Only shop online with sites that are secure: look for a URL that has an HTTPS in the purchasing section. The "S" stands for secure.
Question: Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails: instead type in a web address you know or call the entity in question for verification. Use firewalls, anti-spyware and anti-virus software and keep them up to date. Only provide financial information when YOU have initiated the contact. If regular bills fail to reach you, call the company to find out why.
Passwords: Never use an obvious password like your birth date, mother's maiden name or last four digits of your Social Security number. Keep your personal information in a secure place at home. Ask us or your other financial institutions and credit-card companies to add a password to your accounts, so that no business can be transacted without the secret word.
Report lost or stolen checks immediately: We will block payment on them.
Notify your banker of suspicious phone inquiries: Report inquiries such as those asking for account information to "verify a statement" or "award a prize."

To Report a Lost or Stolen USB Card

For your security, it is important to report a lost or stolen card immediately. If your USB debit, ATM or health savings account (HSA) card is missing, please call 1-800-264-5578. If your USB credit card is missing, please call 1-800-423-7503.

Detecting Suspicious Activity

Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:

Bills that do not arrive when expected
Unexpected credit cards or account statements
Denials of credit you did not apply for
Call or letters about purchases you did not make

Ask For and Inspect your Credit Report

The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion - to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 to order your free credit reports each year. You can also write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

What to Do If You Become a Victim of Identity Theft

Place a "fraud alert" on your credit reports: The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open accounts in your name. The three nationwide consumer-reporting agencies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert. A call to one company is sufficient.
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
- Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Examine them closely. For every fraudulent account that appears on your credit report, wire a letter to the creditor and send it certified. Include an affidavit (witnessed by a notary) stating the account is fraudulent. Include a copy of the police report. Ask for written confirmation that the account has been closed.
Close your account: Close any account that has been tampered with or established fraudulently. Cancel your credit cards and get new ones. Get a new ATM card and choose a different PIN.
File a police report: File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission: Your report helps law-enforcement officials across the country in their investigations
- Online at www.ftc.gov/idtheft
- By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338)
- By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580