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Security Tips

Safeguarding your personal and financial information is a responsibility we take very seriously at County First Bank. However, you should also remain vigilant against potential threats to “Identity Theft”. Last year alone, the Federal Trade Commission logged more than 85,000 complaints from people whose identities had been pirated. That may only be the tip of the iceberg; some consumer advocates suggest as many as 750,000 identities are stolen each year.

The identity thief can get your personal information by many means, both technology based and people based, including:

  • Stealing your purse or wallet
  • Pilfering information from your mail box such as bank statements and pre-approved credit card applications
  • Do not have your Driver’s License number or Social Security number imprinted on your personal checks
  • Observing your transactions at automated teller machines or store checkout terminals to capture your personal identification number (PIN)
  • Going through trash for credit card receipts or loan applications

Here are a few simple steps to always keep in mind:

  • Stay connected at all times with alerts sent by text or email.
  • Do not share your User ID or Password with anyone. County First Bank employees will never need to know your Password and you should never furnish it to anyone claiming to represent County First Bank. (Please note: If you call County First Bank, we may ask for your User ID as verification.)
  • Use websites that have secure credit card processing payment gateways enabled. Dont send your cc information to an unsecured website.
  • Never disclose personal information to anyone who should not have access to your accounts. This would include information such as your Social Security number, credit card numbers, bank account numbers or any personal identification numbers (PIN). (Please note: If you call County First Bank, we may ask for your Social Security Number as verification.)
  • Do not print your driver’s license number or Social Security number on personal checks.
  • Report lost or stolen checks or bank cards immediately.
  • Store new and cancelled checks in a secure location.
  • Memorize your personal identification number. And, whenever you select your own PIN, never use information that could be readily found in your wallet or purse, such as your house number or date of birth.
  • Online Banking is a great resource for monitoring your accounts. You have direct access to your accounts and transactions 24 hours a day with any Internet connection.
  • Review monthly financial statements promptly and report any discrepancies immediately. Never ignore suspicious charges on your statements. If doubtful or unauthorized charges appear on your bills or statements, call immediately to resolve the discrepancy.
  • If regular bills or statements stop coming to you, take action. Call the company’s customer service number. Someone may have filed a false change-of-address notice to divert your mail.
  • Retain all receipts from ATM, debit and credit card transactions until they have been reconciled to your statements. When you’re ready to dispose of them, make sure your account number is not readable.
  • Be sure to sign new bankcards immediately.
  • Do not carry, on a routine basis, important documents you do not need on a daily basis, such as your Social Security card, passport or birth certificate. If lost or stolen, an identity thief could use them. Carry them only as needed.
  • Destroy cards you no longer use, making sure the numbers are not recognizable.
  • Shred unnecessary financial documents, including old bank statements, invoices, and unwanted pre-approved credit offers.
  • Question emails or phone inquiries that appear to be suspicious. Unless you initiated the contact, County First Bank will not request your personal information (e.g., account number, Social Security number or mother’s maiden name) through email, U.S. mail or by phone. Please notify us immediately if you receive unusual calls or emails claiming to be from County First Bank. Be especially wary of those requesting account information to “award a prize” or “verify a statement.” Report unusual inquiries or other suspicious activity to your telephone service provider, County First Bank, or local law enforcement authorities. If you are unsure of any email correspondence, call County First Bank at 1-301-934-2265.
  • Never provide your financial information to an unfamiliar website. County First Bank will never request such an action.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud related to your County First Bank accounts, notify us immediately at 1-301-934-2265, so that we can take action to help you.