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Security Alerts

Your Security & Privacy

Each year thousands of people fall victim to identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information (social security number, driver's license, bank account information, debit/credit cards, etc.) and opens bank accounts, apply for credit, and run up bills in your name. Your identity is one of your most precious assets. At Bay Cities Bank we are not simply concerned with your financial assets, but we are committed to customer protection. Our protection includes state of the art technology as well as arming you, our customer, with beneficial knowledge to protect yourself. Click on one of the links below to learn more about identity theft and our commitment to you.

How Bay Cities Bank Safegueards Your Assets
Safeguarding Your Assets
How Thieves Steal Your Identity
Phishing
Reporting Identity Theft
Secure Banking Features

What does all of this security get you, better banking features? Click here to learn more about our secure banking features.

How Bay Cities Bank Safeguards Your Assets

Our Communication Practices:

We will never ask you for your confidential account access information. If you receive a suspicious email, phone call, or letter, please do not respond and call us immediately at 813-281-0009. Note: In order to serve you online or when calling our offices, you may be asked to verify personal information so that we can process your transaction.

What we do:

We employ industry-proven standards and technologies such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and user names/passwords to protect your information and keep you safe.

  • We keep you safe by protecting our systems and networks from the Internet with Firewall systems.
  • We keep you safe by employing Intrusion Detection software, and monitoring for unauthorized access.
  • We keep you safe by selectively reviewing activity logs to prevent unauthorized activities from occurring within our computing environment.
  • We keep you safe by controlling access to your information inside our company. Employee access is limited to systems and data based on business requirements.
  • We keep you safe by following our Information Security Policies and Standards. These documents are based on internationally respected security standards, applicable laws and regulations, and industry-based 'best practices'.
  • We keep you safe by providing Information Security awareness courses and materials to our employees, to educate and motivate them in applying our Information Security Policies and Standards to their job every day.
  • Our employees are responsible for upholding our Information Security Policies and Standards.

Click here to learn more about Bay Cities Bank privacy principles.

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Safeguarding Your Assets

Take these precautions to protect your personal information:

  • Be cautious when giving out personal information such as your social security number and account or credit card information, whether it is in person, on the telephone or on the internet. Know who you are speaking to. If in doubt, don't give it out!
  • Guard your personal information: Never carry your social security card, account numbers and/or PINs in your purse or wallet. Memorize your PIN (personal identification number) and never write it on your debit/credit cards.
  • Report lost or stolen checks, debit and credit cards immediately.
  • Sign your cards as soon as you receive them. Ensure you get your card back after every purchase and make a list of all credit/debit cards and their numbers and store it in a safe place.
  • Store new checks, cancelled checks and statements in a safe place.
  • Review your monthly statements thoroughly and soon after receiving them. Report any suspicious activity to us immediately.
  • Shred all confidential paperwork: Never throw personal information away without first ensuring it has been completely destroyed.
  • Request your credit reports: At least annually request a copy of your credit reports to verify authenticity. The three major credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and Trans Union.
  • Your mail: Mail fraud is one more way to steal your personal information. Mail all bills from a secure location and be sure to retrieve all mail received promptly.
  • Contact your service provider if you do not receive your monthly bill.
  • Close any old or unused accounts: If you have credit cards or an old bank account that is not being used, close the account(s) immediately. The more information you have, the more opportunity thieves have to steal it.

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How Thieves Steal Your Identity

Identity thieves can use many different tools to steal your personal and confidential information:

  • Theft: stealing your purse or wallet and using your drivers license, Social Security number and credit cards to commit fraud. Warning: Do not carry your Social Security card with you.
  • Point of Sale: employees (cashiers, waiters, etc.) who are unethical can obtain your credit card and ID information by writing down numbers or taking copies of receipts.
  • Online: a growing source of fraud where criminals use emails or counterfeit websites to trick you into providing confidential information. This is also known as "phishing". Learn more about "phishing" scams.
  • Trash: digging through your trash looking for receipts, statements, credit card offers or other pieces of personal information.
  • Phone: making unsolicited calls to you requesting personal information.

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Phishing

What is phishing?

A form of Identity Theft - typically an e-mail is sent to you, or a pop-up box appears on your screen that looks like it comes from a legitimate company telling you that you must update your records and verify your username and password. The site is really a place to collect that information from you and steal your identity, money, records and whatever they can.

Knowledge is the most effective preventive mechanism today - Legitimate companies do not ask you for your login information by e-mail.

Beware of these lures to get you to reply:

  • Threatening to close your account unless you provide personal information immediately.
  • Claiming to need updated personal information on your account.
  • Offering a service that can only be provided with your personal information.

Note: Bay Cities Bank will never request your confidential or account access information via email. Customers are urged to follow several basic steps to protect themselves from phishing schemes.

  1. If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from Bay Cities Bank, do not respond and report it immediately by calling 813-281-0009 and by forwarding the actual phishing emails to the FTC at spam@uce.gov.
  2. Never respond to a request for information using the links provided in email. Close your email and go directly to the company's website before entering any information. Otherwise, contact the company's customer service department and suggest that they mail you a request.
  3. Finally, if you feel you may have supplied your personal information in response to fraudulent email or website, call Bay Cities Bank immediately for assistance at (813) 281-0009.

Visit the FTC website to learn more about phishing www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/phishingalrt.htm

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Reporting Identity Theft

If you think your identity may have been stolen, you need to take action immediately! Following is a comprehensive list on what you need to do:

  • Records: Keep records of all correspondence
  • Issuer: Contact the issuer in question
  • Credit Bureau: Alert the fraud departments of each of the major credit bureaus. Request a copy of your credit report and ask that your credit file is marked with a "fraud alert." This "fraud alert" will raise the level of scrutiny lenders take when issuing credit in your name.

    Equifax 1-800-525-6285
    Experian 1-888-397-3742
    TransUnion 1-800-680-7289


  • Police: Contact your local police department. Notify law enforcement of where ID theft occurred and obtain copies of the police report.
  • Financial Institutions: Call Bay Cities Bank at (813) 281-0009 for assistance. We will be able to monitor your account(s) for fraudulent activity. If
  • necessary, we can assist you with replacing your Bay Cities Bank cards (ATM/Check, Credit); placing stop payments on checks that may have been stolen; and ensuring unauthorized accounts are closed. In addition to contacting Bay Cities Bank, contact any of your other banks and credit issuers.
  • Check Verification Companies: If an ID thief has opened up bank accounts in your name, contact the following check verification companies:

    Chex Systems 1-800-428-9623
    Cross Check 1-800-552-1900
    Equifax 1-800-437-5120
    National Processing Co. (NPC) 1-800-526-5380
    CheckRite 1-800-766-2748
    SCAN 1-800-262-7771
    Telecheck 1-800-710-9898


  • FTC: File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling the Identity Theft Hotline, toll free at 1-877- ID THEFT (438-4338)
  • Post Office: If you believe that mail has been stolen from your mailbox, or that someone has mail in your name going to a different address, contact US Postal Inspection Service Office at 1-800-275-8777, or via email at www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect
  • Social Security Administration: If your Social Security number has been stolen, contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to report the theft. Please note that the Social Security takes no special action because it has been stolen.
  • Department of Motor Vehicles: If you suspect an ID thief used your name or SSN to get a driver's license or on-Drivers ID card, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/html/dlnew.html.
  • If you are a victim of Internet Fraud, file a complaint at www.ic3.gov

For more information on Identity Theft visit www.ftc.gov

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Secure Banking Features

Bill Pay

If you are tired of writing checks, buying stamps, and rushing to the post office to have your bills arrive on time Free Online Banking with Bill Pay is for you! Online Banking with Bill Pay offers a secure and easy way to manage your finances and pay your bills online. Online Bill Pay puts you in control because you have the flexibility to pay almost any individual or company in the United States, set up recurring bills to be paid automatically, store payment history, and update information and payments instructions in a secure environment.

Online Banking with Bill Pay also lets you view account activity, transfer funds between eligible accounts, schedule multiple payments on one screen, receive electronic versions of your bills, if available, and much more.

To learn more about our privacy principles click here.

Direct Deposit

Make life easier, use Direct Deposit! When you sign up for Direct Deposit, your paychecks, dividends and other recurring credits are deposited directly into your checking, money market or savings account. So, you avoid trips to the bank to make deposits, and there's no need to wait for your checks to clear - you can use your direct deposit funds immediately.

Advantages

  • It's Convenient - Funds available for cash immediately
  • Saves Time - No special trips to the bank to deposit your check
  • Security - No worries about lost or stolen checks
  • Flexibility - Deposit may be divided into multiple accounts

To learn more about our privacy principles click here.

For more information on Identity Theft visit www.ftc.gov

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ATM Security Alert

Click here to download ATM security alert

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Virus Alert

Bay Cities Bank has recently become aware of an external Internet Virus that seeks to obtain personal information including your Internet Banking user ID or password. We recommend that as a precaution, all customers regularly update antivirus and/or Spyware tools to protect them from general Internet threats.

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