Security Awareness

At M&F Bank we are committed to providing information to our customers to help them identify risks associated with online banking, cyberfraud and Identity Theft.  The bank places an emphasis on educating customers about how it is protecting customer information and how customers can protect themselves using safe practices and freely available resources.  We use multi-layered security to protect your confidential information.

NOTE REGARDING EQUIFAX SECURITY BREACH

Equifax has established a website that informs consumers if they may be affected by the breach, provides additional information on the breach, and offers complimentary identity theft protection and credit file monitoring. This information is available at www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. To protect your identity and personal information, M&F Bank strongly encourages our customers to take the actions noted below. 

• Review your account statements to spot any suspicious transactions.
• If you suspect your personal information has been compromised, please contact Equifax immediately via http://www.equifax.com. If you spot any suspicious transactions or have any questions about your M&F Bank account(s) please contact your local branch.
• Consider if you should place an initial fraud alert on your credit report (see https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0275-place-fraud-alert).
• Consider if you should freeze your credit file (see https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0497-credit-freeze-faqs).
• Review your credit reports for accuracy. Call any one of the three credit reporting agencies to receive your free annual credit report or visit www.annualcreditreport.gov.  

Privacy and ID Theft Protection

Safeguarding your sensitive information (Your name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number, etc.) is of key importance to us.  We will not call you and ask for information that we already have.  If we do call you, we may ask you to verify the last 4 digits of your SSN, but will not ask for the entire number over the phone, in a text, or in an email.  We will also never ask you for your password.  Shred statements or tax documents that may contain personal information.

If you believe your personal confidential information has been compromised, please contact us at  800-433-8283 Ext. 8840.

Online Banking Security

There are ways to minimize risk associated with Online Banking.  The Bank uses a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol to transfer data between your computer and the online banking website.  This insures a secure encrypted session with you.  To protect yourself use a special login and a password that is difficult to guess.  Avoid using public computers or public WiFi for online banking.  If you operate a business, use a dedicated PC for online banking.  Do not use this PC for email or any other purpose that may jeopardize your confidential information.

Phishing Attempts

Email represents a potential risk in that someone could provide a link to a website where they attempt to get you to log in with your online banking credentials.  They may pose as if they are your bank and even copy the bank’s logo to put in the email to make the email appear authentic.  Usually, it is best to open your browser and navigate to the bank’s website rather than using a link provided in an email.

Malware

Use AntiVirus software on your computer to protect it from becoming infected by malware (viruses, spyware, adware, etc.).  Be suspicious of attachments in emails and don’t click on them unless you know what they are.  Malware could be installed on your computer by opening attachments or clicking on links in an email.

Data Breaches

If any customer information held by M&F Bank is compromised, the FDIC requires us to notify you.  However, it is wise to be suspicious of calls, texts, or emails to the effect that your information has been breached.  It could be that someone is trying to collect information from you. 

Debit Card Protection

M&F Bank has the following suggestions regarding the care and use of debit cards:

• NEVER give your debit card information when requested by phone, email, or texting. We at M&F Bank nor any other bank we know of will ever request information from you in this manner. Please contact us if you receive any such request.

• If, when making a payment, you must hand your card to someone who takes it out of your sight, it is a good idea to pay by credit card instead. An example might be when a waiter takes your card from your table in a restaurant or when ordering online. Debit cards are easier to process illegally vs. credit cards.

For more information about identity theft and other tips on how to protect yourself and your information please visit the following websites (clicking on the links below you will be leaving M&F Bank’s secure website):

Federal Trade Commission:  www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft

FDIC Consumer News and Alerts:  https://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/

United States Department of Justice:  www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud

Equifax, P O Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30349-5069   www.equifax.com

Experian, P O Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013-0949  www.experian.com

Trans Union, P O Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022  www.transunion.com

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The following links are provided solely as a convenience to our Business/Commercial Online Banking clients. M&F Bank neither endorses nor guarantees in any way the organizations, services, or advice associated with these links. M&F Bank is not responsible for the accuracy of the content found on these sites.

• Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice
• OnGuard Online: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0038-onguardonline
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) http://csrc.nist.gov/
• SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security) Institute https://www.sans.org/critical-security-controls
• S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) https://www.us-cert.gov/