Banks are national leaders in preserving the security of customer data. The industry dedicates hundreds of millions of dollars annually to data security and adheres to strict regulatory and network requirements. The banking industry’s first priority is to protect consumers and their hard-earned dollars.
In the event of a data breach:
Report any suspected fraud to your bank immediately.
Use online banking to protect yourself. Monitor your financial accounts regularly for fraudulent transactions. Sign up alerts for certain types of transactions, such as online purchases or transactions of more than certain amount.
Beware of phishing scams. Never give out personal financial information in an email or over the phone unless you have initiated the contact.
Monitor your credit report. Order a free copy of your credit report every four months from one of the three credit reporting agencies at annualcreditreport.com.
For more advice, review the FTC Data Breach Response Guide.
If you suspect your identity has been stolen:
Call your bank and credit card issuers immediately so they can assist you with the steps needed to protect your accounts.
File a police report and call the fraud unit of three credit-reporting companies. The fraud unit numbers are:
TransUnion (800) 680-7289
Experian (888) 397-3742
Equifax (800) 525-6285
Consider placing a victim statement in your credit report.
Make sure to maintain a log of all the contacts you make with authorities regarding the matter. Write down names, titles, and phone numbers in case you need to re-contact them or refer to them in future correspondence.
For more advice, contact the FTC’s ID Theft Consumer Response Center at 1-877-ID THEFT (1-877-438-4338) or https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft.
Reference: Data Breach Tips | American Bankers Association (aba.com)