Important credit card safety tips to protect your personal information It's essential to be proactive and keep your Secure your devices and credit card information safe year-round to avoid network identity theft. While safeguarding your credit cards often store your credit card informa- comes down to common sense, fraudsters are tion, you could be vulnerable. always searching for passwords and Personal To prevent this, consider turn- Identification Numbers (PINS). If fraudsters suc- ing off the autofill function in cessfully gain your personal information, it can each browser that you use. be quite costly, according to Community Bank's Also, consider using a digital Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Offi- cer, Jennifer George. If you allow your browser to wallet. Digital wallets are pay- ment systems housed on your "If consumers don't report fraudulent activity smartphone that allow you to quickly, they could be liable," George said. "That conduct electronic transac- means they could suffer permanent or tempo- tions using your credit cards quickly and securely. Because digital wallets use encryption, tokenization and authentica- list of tips to help consumers safeguard their cred- tion, they are safer than car- rary financial loss." George and Community Bank have gathered a it card information and shop with confidence. rying your credit cards. If you do use a digital wallet, be sure your smartphone is password Practice credit card protection from the start As soon as you get a new card, be sure to sign and fingerprint-protected and the back, George said. This protects you if your that you download an app to make it easier to know what to do and what to expect if they find a fraudulent purchase." card is lost or stolen. Also, be sure to turn on find your phone in case you lose it. suspicious activity alerts and choose a strong password that is unique to each account. If your Protect yourself online About Community Bank account requires a PIN, don't choose a combina- It's important to always practice basic online and Community Bank is a locally-managed, indepen- dent bank that offers comprehensive financial services to regional businesses and residents. Chartered by the United States in 1901 as the First National Bank of Carmichaels, Community Bank tion that is personal to you, like your birthday or mobile safety. When shopping online, be sure to look for sites with "https" in the web address (the s stands for secure) and the green lock icon. Also, don't allow your credit card information to digits from your Social Security number. Keep your account number private your account information out over the phone; public Wi-Fi. only offer it when you initiate the call and are "The number one reason for fraud is that con- speaking with a representative that you trust. sumers don't use encrypted emails and secure Note, a financial institution will not call, text or websites," George said. "There are a lot of scams email you asking for your account information. Don't let anyone see your card while you're out in be stored on an online shopping site, and don't has steadily grown over the last 120 years. public. George said to be selective when giving shop or conduct financial transactions using Today, Community Bank continues to offer steadfast personal service, coupled with the lat- est in financial services and technology. With offices in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and with dedicated commercial relationship officers, out there and consumers need to be certain they Community Bank offers old-fashioned relation- ship banking, notable for its speed, flexibility and aren't failing victim to a fraudster." Always be suspicious when you receive a com- munication (email, text, social media message) asking for personal information or to click a sus- Check your account often and report fraud To learn more about Community Bank and picious link. common sense. right away the services and products they offer, visit www.communitybank.tv. Consider receiving paperless statements and Reviewing your recent account activity is funda- making payments online to remove your sensi- mental to credit card safety, George said. Most tive information from the postal system. It's also issuers let you set up email or text alerts. If you a good idea to shred documents with sensitive lose your credit card or suspect fraudulent ac- personal data rather than simply throwing them tivity, contact your financial institution or issu- er right away. They can block your card and ac- count number preventing additional fraud, and Sponsored content brought to you by in the trash. ch issue you a new card. Keep your information current Community Bank Keeping your personal information up-to-date George said issuers and financial institutions are allows your financial institution to easily and required to make consumers aware of the fraud quickly contact you in the event of fraud or suspi- process, but consumers are responsible for un- cious activity, George said. Be sure to notify your derstanding the process and acting on it. financial institution if you move or get a new "It never hurts to call and ask your issuer about number or email. Member FDIC or ver LENDER the process," George said. "Consumers should Important credit card safety tips to protect your personal information It's essential to be proactive and keep your Secure your devices and credit card information safe year-round to avoid network identity theft. While safeguarding your credit cards often store your credit card informa- comes down to common sense, fraudsters are tion, you could be vulnerable. always searching for passwords and Personal To prevent this, consider turn- Identification Numbers (PINS). If fraudsters suc- ing off the autofill function in cessfully gain your personal information, it can each browser that you use. be quite costly, according to Community Bank's Also, consider using a digital Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Offi- cer, Jennifer George. If you allow your browser to wallet. Digital wallets are pay- ment systems housed on your "If consumers don't report fraudulent activity smartphone that allow you to quickly, they could be liable," George said. "That conduct electronic transac- means they could suffer permanent or tempo- tions using your credit cards quickly and securely. Because digital wallets use encryption, tokenization and authentica- list of tips to help consumers safeguard their cred- tion, they are safer than car- rary financial loss." George and Community Bank have gathered a it card information and shop with confidence. rying your credit cards. If you do use a digital wallet, be sure your smartphone is password Practice credit card protection from the start As soon as you get a new card, be sure to sign and fingerprint-protected and the back, George said. This protects you if your that you download an app to make it easier to know what to do and what to expect if they find a fraudulent purchase." card is lost or stolen. Also, be sure to turn on find your phone in case you lose it. suspicious activity alerts and choose a strong password that is unique to each account. If your Protect yourself online About Community Bank account requires a PIN, don't choose a combina- It's important to always practice basic online and Community Bank is a locally-managed, indepen- dent bank that offers comprehensive financial services to regional businesses and residents. Chartered by the United States in 1901 as the First National Bank of Carmichaels, Community Bank tion that is personal to you, like your birthday or mobile safety. When shopping online, be sure to look for sites with "https" in the web address (the s stands for secure) and the green lock icon. Also, don't allow your credit card information to digits from your Social Security number. Keep your account number private your account information out over the phone; public Wi-Fi. only offer it when you initiate the call and are "The number one reason for fraud is that con- speaking with a representative that you trust. sumers don't use encrypted emails and secure Note, a financial institution will not call, text or websites," George said. "There are a lot of scams email you asking for your account information. Don't let anyone see your card while you're out in be stored on an online shopping site, and don't has steadily grown over the last 120 years. public. George said to be selective when giving shop or conduct financial transactions using Today, Community Bank continues to offer steadfast personal service, coupled with the lat- est in financial services and technology. With offices in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and with dedicated commercial relationship officers, out there and consumers need to be certain they Community Bank offers old-fashioned relation- ship banking, notable for its speed, flexibility and aren't failing victim to a fraudster." Always be suspicious when you receive a com- munication (email, text, social media message) asking for personal information or to click a sus- Check your account often and report fraud To learn more about Community Bank and picious link. common sense. right away the services and products they offer, visit www.communitybank.tv. Consider receiving paperless statements and Reviewing your recent account activity is funda- making payments online to remove your sensi- mental to credit card safety, George said. Most tive information from the postal system. It's also issuers let you set up email or text alerts. If you a good idea to shred documents with sensitive lose your credit card or suspect fraudulent ac- personal data rather than simply throwing them tivity, contact your financial institution or issu- er right away. They can block your card and ac- count number preventing additional fraud, and Sponsored content brought to you by in the trash. ch issue you a new card. Keep your information current Community Bank Keeping your personal information up-to-date George said issuers and financial institutions are allows your financial institution to easily and required to make consumers aware of the fraud quickly contact you in the event of fraud or suspi- process, but consumers are responsible for un- cious activity, George said. Be sure to notify your derstanding the process and acting on it. financial institution if you move or get a new "It never hurts to call and ask your issuer about number or email. Member FDIC or ver LENDER the process," George said. "Consumers should