Stay informed about current fraud alerts and scams:
How We Protect You From Fraud
Merchants Bank uses a combination of safeguards to protect your information. We will:
- Use proper procedures to confirm your identity
- Obscure account numbers on transaction receipts or statements
- Use secure and encrypted online account applications
- Offer eStatements to eliminate account information being stolen through the mail
- Offer protection in the form of a privacy code for over-the-phone account information and transactions
- Use fraud monitoring applications to detect fraudulent transactions on your debit or credit card 24/7
- Never share or sell your personal information
- Never contact you and ask for your entire social security number over the phone, through text message or email
- Ensure our vendors are using the most current security detection programs
- Provide staff education regarding security best practices, current security threats and more
How You Can Protect Yourself From Fraud
- Frequently review the current list of consumer scams at FTC.gov.
- Notify your bank about your travel plans. See Additional Resources section below.
- Store private information in a safe place, like a locked desk drawer or file cabinet.
- Do not provide your Social Security number or personal credit information to anyone over the phone or online unless you are the one who placed the call and are familiar with the business.
- Shred all financial statements, credit card offers and any unused cards before recycling them. Delete old texts and emails from your bank.
- Carefully check through your credit card and bank activity regularly and report unusual activity as soon as possible.
- Never have a website remember your password to log in.
- Set up text or email alerts from your bank for certain transactions, such as transactions over $500. Alerts are available through CardValet and Alerts functions in Merchants Bank Online Banking.
- Sign up for eStatements to reduce the likelihood of paper statements being stolen.
- Make sure the virus protection software on your computer is up-to-date.
- Use the passcode feature on your smart phone and other mobile devices. It will be more difficult for people to access your personal information in the event your device is lost or stolen.
- File reports if your devices are lost or stolen. Inform your wireless provider and financial institutions immediately.
Additional Resources
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