FYI

ENSURING FINANCIAL SECURITY

Keeping your banking information safe only takes a few simple steps.

Living in a digital age means that most of the time, life is more convenient. Despite the ease, many don’t consider how the rise in digitization has, in some ways, compromised nancial security.

Kathrynn Cavanaugh with e First State Bank in Oklahoma City o ers a few easy-to-utilize tips to keep your money secure.

“Always shop or make purchases from a trusted and veri ed source,” she says. “Beware of phishing scams, like texts on your phone with links, even if they look legitimate. And shop in stores that have chip readers.”

According to Cavanaugh, checking to see if a website is reputable is quick and easy.

“You can look for a ‘lock’ in the upper left-hand corner of the URL to show that the website is securely encrypted,” she says. “Use a credit card to make online purchases so that it is not tied to liquid funds, in the event that fraud does happen. Always keep your bank account numbers, checkbooks, etc. in a secure location that only the account holder has access to.”

When asked if it’s safe to store info like passwords, card information and contact information on web browsers, Cavanaugh says yes to Google Chrome or Apple Pay.

“ ese technologies use biometric veri cation, such as a ngerprint, when using on your phone,” she says. “You can also visit the privacy settings of your preferred web browser to see or reset any tracking information and limit what information you share.”

Many websites share tips on how to keep your nancial information secure, including the following from nerdwallet.com:

No. 1 could be the simplest but possibly the most important: Safeguard your Social Security number.

Still receiving statements in the mail? Shred anything that has account information on it before you throw it in the trash. After all, stolen mail is a great way for someone to access valuable information. Have your mail held at the post o ce if you’re going to be away from home for an extended period. In fact, many aren’t aware of a service o ered by the post o ce in which you can receive an email every day that mail is delivered and what to expect in your mailbox. Check it out at usps.org.

When you receive a nancial statement, look over every transaction and ensure it was made by you or someone in your household. ere are three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. Check your credit reports with them on a regular basis to watch for signs of fraudulent actions. Have accounts in deferment or forbearance? ese will show up on your credit report as well and can be monitored for accuracy.

Take advantage of the alerts o ered by your bank or other nancial institution. Account holders can sign up to receive texts or emails when credit cards are used or when a deposit or withdrawal is made.

“And don’t post sensitive information on social media,” says

Cavanaugh. DEBI TURLEY

e Basics:

• Ensure a website is encrypted by checking for a lock in the upper left-hand corner • Visit stores with chip readers if possible • Keep bank information and checkbooks in a secure location • Avoid storing information on web browsers if possible • Shred mail with sensitive information • Review monthly financial statements • Routinely check your credit scores • Subscribe to text alerts from your financial institution