5 Practices to Help Protect Your Company from Fraud

1. Help Protect Sensitive Information?
2. Help Defend Computers Against Attacks
3. Implement Operational Safeguards
4. Never Be Too Cautious
5. Backup Key Information

1. Help Protect Sensitive Information

• Never give out a PIN, SSN, personal or banking information in response to an email.
• Emails are not a 100% secure method to send information. Do not include any account information or identity information in a non-secure email.
• Use “strong” passwords with at least 8 characters that include a combination of mixed case letters, symbols and numbers.
• Don’t share passwords.
• Change passwords frequently.
• Avoid using an automatic login feature that saves your username and password.

2. Help Defend Computers Against Attacks

• Keep computer operating systems and applications up-to-date on workstations and servers.
• Install AntiVirus software and desktop firewalls to limit unauthorized network access.
• Consider using dedicated computers for business online banking. Do not use public or unsecured computers.
• Do not open emails from unknown sources. Be suspicious of emails claiming to be from a financial institution. Opening file attachments or clicking on web links could expose your system to malicious code that could hijack your computer.
• Do not install software from unknown sources.

3. Implement Operational Safeguards

• Separate financial duties, so that one individual does not handle all aspects of the company’s online transactions.
• Enable dual approval control for all money movement and transactions, including cash management services.
• Establish transaction dollar limits for initiation, approval, and release of money transfers.
• Take advantage of available alerts. Receive notification when balances are low, transfers are made, passwords are changed and email addresses are updated.
• Reconcile accounts daily and review transactions for validity.
• Delete online user IDs, as part of the exit procedure, when employees leave your business.
• Utilize check stock safety features, such as: watermarks, thermo chromatic ink, high resolution borders, etc.

4. Never Be Too Cautious

• Never leave your computer unattended. Install screensaver timeouts, so your computer locks automatically after a specified time range.
• Encrypt sensitive data.
• Dispose of computers, mobile devices, and documents with secure information in a secure manner.
• If you suspect fraudulent activity, call your Customer Service Representative as soon as possible at 206-292-3900.

5. Backup Key Information

• In the event of a hardware or software failure due to fraud, ensure computers and servers are being backed up to protect important data.

The information provided is presented for general informational purposes only; following these recommendations does not guarantee fraud prevention. Please refer to your disclosure documents for detailed liability information.