Resources

The financial landscape is constantly evolving, which can make it challenging for you to stay informed about the latest financial topics and best practices for financial safety.

At Citizens Bank, your financial success is our top priority. This means we take pride in helping you stay up-to-date on current financial issues and best practices for online safety. We want to give you the tools and resources you need to help you be fully financially informed.

The following financial resources were compiled with you in mind. Whether you’re looking to learn more about managing your finances, or want to know more about online user safety, the following resources are a great place to start. Click on any of the follow tabs below to begin learning.

Money

Are you looking to learn more about basic personal financial management? For tips on managing your money, visit the following links:

• mymoney.gov
• Money Smart
• Building Wealth

Fraud and ID Theft

Everyone is subject to becoming a victim of fraud and identity theft. Use the following links to learn about the precautions you can take to help keep your identity safe.

• Don’t be an online victim

It’s important to know the steps you can take to protect your personal information. The following articles will help you understand how to protect your financial information.

• Protecting your checking account

Keep your debit card PIN confidential. If you have shared your PIN for any reason, stop by your local branch and have your PIN changed.

When using your debit card, select credit when possible. This lessens the chances of someone tracking your PIN and accessing your financial information, and it enables consumer protections provided by Regulation E.

Use extreme caution when you receive a phone call or text asking for personal information such as your social, or any information pertaining to your finances.

In case Citizens Bank’s fraud prevention team needs to contact you, it’s always a great idea to ensure we always have your current email address and phone number(s) on file. Stop by or call any of our locations and a bank associate will be happy to update this information for you.

Never provide your full account number or social security number over the phone.

If you see suspicious activity on your account contact the bank right away.

Click here to see more general guidelines about online tips from OnGuardOnline.gov.

The American Bankers Association suggests the following tips to help seniors safeguard their money:

• Keep personal information private. Never share your social security number, account information, or personal details over the phone or internet, unless you initiated contact with a trusted source.
• Shred! Shred! Shred! Shred receipts, bank statements, and unused credit card offers before throwing them away so fraudsters can’t piece together your personal information.
• Don’t let a so-called “advisor” pressure you. Never let a new or untrusted “advisor” pressure you into sharing personal or financial details. They could be a fraudster. Carefully choose a trustworthy person to act as your agent in all estate-planning matters.
• Check your credit report. Check your credit report at least once a year to ensure no new credit cards or accounts have been opened by criminals in your name. Everyone is entitled to receive a free copy of their credit report annually from each of the three credit reporting agencies, but you must go through the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.annualcreditreport.com, or call 1-(877) 322-8228.
• Lock up your checkbook, account statements, and other sensitive information when others will be in your home.
• Get to know your banker and build a relationship with the people who handle your finances. They can look out for any suspicious activity related to your account.
• Never pay a fee or taxes to collect sweepstakes or lottery “winnings.”
• Check references and credentials before hiring anyone. Don’t allow workers to have access to information about your finances.
• Pay with checks and credit cards instead of cash in order to keep a paper trail.
• Trust your instincts. Exploiters and abusers often are very skilled. They can be charming and forceful in their effort to convince you to give up control of your finances. Don’t be fooled—if something doesn’t feel right, it may not be right. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you are a victim of financial abuse, please talk to the Adult Protective Services, police, one of our Bank Associates, a trusted family member, your clergy, attorney, doctor, or visit reportadultabuse.dhs.tn.gov.

Mailbox identity fraud, theft, and check washing is on the rise and it is important we all take measures to protect our information, payments, and documents. This increasingly common method of fraud involves thieves stealing mail, altering checks, and cashing them for their gain, and we typically see an increase in these attempts around the holidays.

Mail identity fraud theft is where someone unlawfully accesses another individual’s sensitive information from physical mail. These documents often contain valuable personal data, which criminals can use for fraudulent activity or access private platforms.

Some of the information sent via mail includes financial account details or other identifiers that can be used to commit crimes. The most common pieces of information that identity thieves go after include full names, addresses, social security numbers (SSN), phone numbers, email addresses, credit card details, financial and banking account information, employment details, and your welfare status.

Check washing is a form of fraud where criminals intercept checks in the mail, erase the ink, make the check out to themselves, and then they adjust the amount of the check to divert the funds into their pockets.

Ways to Protect Yourself:

• Direct Deposit: Whenever possible, choose direct deposit as a secure and efficient way to receive payments. This eliminates the physical check making you vulnerable to theft.
• Monitor Your Mail: Be vigilant about the delivery of your mail. If you notice any suspicious activity, such as missing statements or delayed bills, contact your local post office promptly.
• Use Secure Mailboxes: If you must send or receive checks by mail, consider using a secure mailbox at the post office rather than leaving them in your home mailbox.
• Be Mindful of Pickup Times: If you have outgoing mail, be aware of your mail carriers pickup schedule and try to time your outgoing mail to minimize the time it spends in your mailbox.
• Employ Security Features: Consider using checks with security features, such as watermarks and chemical protection, to make it more difficult for fraudsters to alter the information. Ask US what check options are available for you.
• Track Your Transactions: Regularly review your Bank statements and transaction history. Report any unauthorized or altered transactions to us immediately.
• Shred Sensitive Documents: Dispose of old checks, statements, and financial documents by shredding them. This makes it harder for criminals to piece together the information they need.

For additional information relative to mail theft go to: https://www.uspis.gov/report