• Consumer Tip of the Week
• Online Security
• Identity Theft – Federal Trade Commission
• Avoid Cashier’s Check Fraud
• FDIC Consumer News
• FDIC Consumer News Audio Companion
• FDIC Consumer Response Center
• FDIC Deposit Insurance Calculator
• Free Credit Reports
• Phishing
• On Guard

Consumer Tip of the Week

Internet Security Risks

The FDIC provides timely tips on money management. Topics range from savings and borrowing money to protecting money with FDIC insurance and avoiding financial fraud. Access the link below for the Consumer Tip of the Week.

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/tips/index.html

Online Security

Internet Security Risks

Information transmitted over the Internet may be subject to the risk of unauthorized access, alteration or modification. Please exercise discretion and secure your password when accessing our website.

Hours of Accessibility

You may access our website 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when the system is available. The system may be unavailable due to scheduled and/or unscheduled maintenance and system outages.

Electronic Mail (E-Mail)

We may preserve the content of your e-mail, your e-mail address and our response so that we can more efficiently handle any follow-up questions you may have. We also do this to meet legal and regulatory requirements. You should not rely on e-mail if you need to communicate with the Bank immediately because the Bank may not receive or review the e-mail immediately.

Regular non-encrypted Internet e-mail is not secure. In the instances where Stellar Business Bank Internet e-mail addresses are provided, these are provided for information inquiries of a non-sensitive and non-confidential nature. Your messages should not contain any account or personal identifying information (account numbers, social security numbers, etc.).

*    You cannot use e-mail to initiate transactions on your account(s). E-mail messages will not serve as a substitute for any requirement imposed on you to provide Bank with “written” notice.

Identity Theft – Federal Trade Commission

Identity Theft is the unlawful use of another person’s identification. It may take many forms. Common methods include credit card or other financial institution fraud, phone or utility service theft, and the taking of government documents or benefits. One way in which to help stop these activities is to protect your account information from thieves and unauthorized users. For more information, please go online to:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

Avoid Cashier’s Check Fraud

Many consumers have become victims of scams involving a fraudulent cashier’s check.  Cashier’s checks are viewed as relatively risk-free instruments and, therefore, are often used as a trusted form of payment to consumers for goods and services. For more information on some common scams and some steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim, please go online to:

http://www.occ.gov/ftp/ADVISORY/2007-1.html

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FDIC Consumer News

FDIC Consumer News is a quarterly newsletter available online that provides practical guidance on how to become a smarter, safer user of financial services. Each issue offers helpful hints, quick tips, and common-sense strategies to protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars. For more information, please go online to:

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/index.html

FDIC Consumer News Audio Companion

>Consumer News articles issued in 2009 and beyond are being adapted for audio. Click the desired issue to download or listen to the articles in that issue.

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/audio/index.html

FDIC Consumer Response Center

The FDIC's Consumer Response Center has responsibility for investigating all types of consumer complaints about FDIC supervised institutions and for responding to consumer inquiries about consumer laws and regulations and banking practices. For more information, please go online to:

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/ccc/contact.html

FDIC Deposit Insurance Calculator

The FDIC's  Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE)  is an interactive application that can help you learn about deposit insurance.  It allows you to calculate the insurance coverage of your accounts at each FDIC-insured institution. For more information, please go online to:

http://www2.fdic.gov/edie/

Free Credit Reports

Under Federal law, you have the right to receive a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. To request your free annual report under that law, you must go to www.annualcreditreport.com. For more information, please go online to:

http://www.ftc.gov/freereports

Phishing

Phishing is a type of e-mail designed to steal your identity. It involves Internet fraudsters who send spam or pop-up messages to lure personal information (credit card numbers, bank account information, social security numbers, passwords, or other sensitive information) from unsuspecting victims. For more information, please go online to:

www.antiphishing.org

On Guard

OnGuard Online is a government site that provides practical tips to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information. For more information, please go online to:

http://onguardonlilne.gov