Why is my online experience changing?

In order to make your online service experience as secure as possible we are introducing new security features. Most of the time your online experience will be the same as it was before, only now you will have an extra layer of security working behind the scenes to protect your account. The new security may very infrequently prompt you to verify your identify before continuing. This means you can now bank online with an even greater sense of confidence.

What is this new security system?

As our customer, we know how you typically behave: what types of transactions you conduct, when you conduct your transactions and the locations from which you normally log on. If we detect any activity that does not seem like your typical behavior, we will prompt you to further verify your identity so that we can ensure it is you and not a fraudster attempting to compromise your account. This will only happen on rare occasions.

Letting us know it's really you: Security Questions
  • You will be asked to set up several security questions that only you should know the answers to.
  • The security system will recognize the computers you normally use to access your online banking site.
  • In the future, if you or someone else attempts to log in to your account from a new or unrecognized computer, you will need to answer some of your security questions before being allowed to continue.

How do I get started with the new security system?

You will be prompted to set up your security questions very soon. You do not need to do anything to initiate this process. When you are prompted, please take a moment to set up your questions in order to add an additional layer of protection to your account.

How should I choose the secret answers to my security questions?

Your answers should be something you can easily remember, yet not readily known by others. Try to avoid using answers that will change over time. If you share account access with anyone else, you may want to establish your security questions together so that you both know the answers if you are ever prompted to provide additional information when logging in. Enter your answers carefully as you will need to supply exactly the same answer if you are ever prompted with one of your security questions.

How much will it cost?

There is absolutely no cost associated with the new security system. This is just part of our ongoing commitment to providing you with the highest levels of security available.

When will I be asked to answer my security questions?

You will only be prompted to answer some of your security questions when a particular activity or transaction appears to be unusual or uncharacteristic of your typical behavior.

What is unusual or uncharacteristic behavior?

Uncharacteristic or unusual behavior is anything that appears out of the ordinary compared to how you normally would bank online and where you normally bank online. If the action being requested does not appear to be something you would normally do, we will ask you to answer your security questions to make sure it is really you and not an unauthorized user.

How are you able to detect unusual or uncharacteristic behavior?

The security system takes into account factors such as the type of transactions you ordinarily perform, the computers you typically use to access your account, and the typical security settings for your computer. Hundreds of factors such as these create a profile that is unique to you and allows us to make decisions about whether the person conducting a given activity or transaction within your account appears to be you.

Will I be asked to answer questions or provide more information all the time now?

No, you will only be asked for more information when unusual or uncharacteristic behavior is detected. This will most likely be a very rare occurrence.

How do I know it is working?

After you complete the setup process, the new security system will work automatically. That means you are being protected every moment when you are online and more importantly when you are not. Please note that for your protection, we will periodically ask you to update your questions and answers as well.

Is my personal information still safe?

Yes. In fact, your personal information is safer than ever before because of the additional security enhancements.

How will this help prevent online fraud?

If your user ID and password are stolen, the fraudster would have to be able to answer your security questions correctly before being able to access your account or complete a fraudulent transaction. If the user is not able to provide this information, the activity would be blocked. This added layer of security helps us protect your online account at all times.

I check my account very often. Wouldn't I know if something unusual showed up on my account?

It is great that you check your account frequently! It is always a good idea to regularly monitor your account for any unusual activity (like payments you didn't make). This security service helps prevent those incidents from ever occurring, so when you check your account everything is exactly how it should be.

I share my computer with someone who has a different account. Can both of us still log in from this computer?

Yes, you can both use the same computer to log in to your individual accounts. There is no limit to the number of people that can log in to various websites from the same computer. However, you should consider choosing security questions that only you will know the answer to.

My spouse and I have a joint account. Will we both continue to be able to log in to the account?

Yes, you can both continue to log on to the account as usual. However, you may want to establish your security questions together so that you both know the answers if you are ever prompted to provide additional information when logging in.

I already have anti-virus software and a personal firewall. Why do I need this?

We are glad to hear you use anti-virus software and a personal firewall. Be sure that you keep both software programs up to date for the best possible protection against viruses, Trojans, and hackers. These new security features protect against other kinds of threats such as a stolen user ID and password. It works with your other personal security programs, but it does not replace them.