At FSB, We Strive to Provide Quality Service to You, Whether You Visit Us Online, by Telephone, or in Person at One of Our Branch Locations.
We are committed to the responsible use and protection of your consumer information. Our Privacy Policy outlines our commitment to protecting your privacy, regardless of your preferred banking method. Identity Theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your identifying information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone’s identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and mother’s maiden name, in order to impersonate another person. This information enables numerous forms of fraud, which include, but are not limited to, taking over the victim’s financial accounts, opening new bank accounts, applying for credit cards, and/or applying for loans. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.
Ways to Prevent Identity Theft
Protect Your Passwords and PINs
Do not share your passwords and/or PINs with others. You also should not store your passwords and/or PINs on your computer. If you need to write down your passwords or PINs, store them in a secure, private place. You should change your passwords and PINs regularly and use a different password and PIN for each of your accounts. When setting up a password, it is best practice to include numbers and letters or symbols.
Maintain Your Computer Security
Personal firewalls and security software packages (with anti-virus, anti-spam, and spyware detection features) are recommended for those who engage in online transactions in order to protect your identity.
Don’t Respond to Emails/Phone Calls Requesting Personal Information
Farmers State Bank will not ask you to provide or verify sensitive information through email or phone call. Farmers State Bank will not request your identifying information because all of your identifying information is already on file. It is best to call the bank yourself using the number in the phone book or on your statement when responding to requests for information.
Read Your Statements
Read all of your monthly account statements thoroughly to make sure that all transactions are authorized by the account holder(s). Be sure that Farmers State Bank has current contact information on you, including your mailing address, telephone number, and email address. If you see an error on your statement or do not receive a statement, contact Farmers State Bank's Bookkeeping Department at (706) 359-3131.
Secure Your Confidential Documents
Keep all of your financial documents in a secure place, and be careful how you dispose of documents from Farmers State Bank or other confidential information. Documents from Farmers State Bank and other companies that include your identifying information or account information should be shredded.
Safeguard Your Social Security Number
Do not use your Social Security number as a username or password. Keep your Social Security card in a safe place, and avoid carrying it with you. You should also be sure to safeguard the Social Security numbers of any dependents.
A Periodic “Identity Theft” Check
Reviewing your credit report may alert you to inaccuracies and unauthorized activity. You can obtain a free credit report every 12 months from one of the three credit bureaus by contacting the Annual Credit Report Request Service at www.annualcreditreport.com. Be aware that you will have to disclose your Social Security number to obtain this report.
Are You A Victim?
As soon as you know your identity has been stolen, call one of the three major credit reporting agencies. A fraud alert will be set up on a report which requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts. The three major credit reporting agencies and their toll-free numbers for reporting fraud are listed below.
Experian
1 (888) 397-3742 (Fraud)
1 (888) 397-3742 (Credit Report)
www.experian.com
TransUnion
1 (800) 680-7289 (Fraud)
1 (800) 888-4213 (Credit Report)
www.transunion.com
Equifax
1 (800) 525-6285 (Fraud)
1 (800) 685-1111 (Credit Report)
www.equifax.com
Contact the bank immediately at (706) 359-3131 if you have become a victim of identity theft.
It may be necessary to open a new banking account, order a new Debit Card, and/or change passwords set up to access account information.
If you believe your Debit Card has been lost or stolen, please contact us immediately at (706) 359-3131, or you may also contact Mastercard directly during non-banking hours at 1 (800) 500-1044.
File a police report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Keep a copy in case your creditors need proof of the crime.
Call the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline at 1 (800) 269-0271 if your Social Security number has been stolen.
Call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service if you suspect that a thief has used your mailing address to commit a crime. Call 1 (888) 877-7644 for the number of your local office.
Call the Internal Revenue Service at 1 (800) 829-0433 if you believe your identification has been used in violation of tax laws.
Report the Theft to the Federal Trade Commission
Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.
Online: www.ftc.gov/idtheft
By phone: 1 (877) ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1 (866) 653-4261
By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580
Farmers State Bank Routing # 061108161