Online Security Tips

 

Security - especially online security - is an ever-changing landscape full of new threats every time you turn around. We believe one of the best ways to help our customers combat these threats is by keeping you informed and educating you on what to look out for. Below we've compiled various security related information to help you understand what to look for and how to keep yourself safe. 

 

When using the internet there are a few ways to tell if you are on a secure site. First check the site URL; secure sites will begin with "https:" and that s is for secure. Most browsers will also include a padlock icon in the URL bar. On the PCNB website, you will notice our pages have a "Banno Monitor" icon with a date below it. We pay for additional security to ensure that our website is as secure as possible. You should always verify that this icon is present and a recent security scan has recently been verified. 

 

To ensure that the bank can reach you if there is a security question regarding activity on your account, it is very important that you provide the bank with accurate contact information. The next time you stop by your local branch you can request to fill out an updated contact information form so that we have the correct cell phone number, email address, etc. We do not provide this information to any outside marketing companies (see our Privacy Policy) and will only contact you for legitimate banking reasons. Please do not use your "spam email" as the email you provide us or an unused landline as you could miss important information like debit card fraud alerts or transaction verifications. 

When customers apply for online banking access (more about how to sign up for online banking here) a password will be automatically generated. We currently require all first time online banking customers to call our main office to receive their initial password. The initial password will be required to be changed immediately upon your initial log in to ensure that no one, bank staff included, knows your password. Password complexity requirements are visible on the reset password page and are there to ensure that you are meeting minimum security requirements. Remember, passwords should never include information that can be easily guessed like names or birthdays. 

 

NEVER write down your online banking passwords. Instead create something that is memorable to you. A strong passphrase using a memorable phrase, sentence, or song lyrics that is easy for you to remember, but hard for someone else to guess. Adding numbers and special characters ensures your account stays secure and protects against unauthorized access. Our online banking system will lock out a user after 3 unsuccessful login attempts and you will receive an email that you have been locked out. At this point you must call our main office and request to be unlocked from online banking. If you need to be unlocked, your password will automatically also need to be reset. 

*We do not currently allow users to reset their own password. This is our way of keeping your information as secure as possible by requiring you to contact a bank representative to have your password reset so we can confirm your identity and ensure it is a valid accountholder trying to access their account. 

 

You'll notice that your accounts are set up to use a "Pseudo Name" in your online banking such as "Demand 0001" or "Savings 0002", etc. These are account "nicknames" used in place of an account number to maximize the protection of your internet banking experience. You are able to change these nicknames or "Pseudo Names" within your online banking platform, but we strongly discourage using your actual account number. Names like "Home Checking Account" or "Vacation Savings Account" are good options that will ensure you know which account you are looking at from a glance but would not provide anyone looking over your shoulder with information that they should not have. 

 

If you are in your online banking platform, but do not perform any activity for 10 minutes, you will be automatically logged out. You will be required to log back in completely before being able to proceed in any capacity. This protects your information from being visible if you have stepped away from your device and forgot to close your browser or log-off.  

 

Never write your debit card PIN down - especialy on the card itself. If unathorized purchases are made because your PIN was written on your card, you may be liable for the losses. Chose a unique 4-digit combination that cannot be easily guessed by a stranger or someone who knows you. That means no birthdays or birth-years and no simple number combinations like 1234, 1111, etc. 

 

Lost or stolen cards must be reported immediately. This limits the potential for loss of funds if the card ends up in the wrong hands. You should immediately call the bank at 845-225-3688 to report your card as lost or stolen as soon as you notice that it is missing. We will verify the last few transactions on the card and then "hot card" the card to effectively block any new transactions. If you have online banking and the PCNB Mobile app you can also shut your card down by selecting the card from the "Card Management" tab and select "Report card lost/stolen". If you have done this and wish to order a new debit card, contact any branch and we can assist you with ordering a new card. 

 

You may be contacted by our Fraud Center either through a text, phone call or email depending on the contact information that we have on file. Fraud Center alerts will come via phone 800-237-8990, text messages from 96923 or via email. You have 48 hours to respond to a fraud center message, if it has been over 48 hours, you must contact the bank at 845-225-3688 to confirm fraud or reactivate the card if the transaction was legitimate. **If you have received an alert from our Fraud Center your card has also been temporarily blocked and you will not be able to complete any transactions until you have contacted either the fraud center or the bank. 

 

 

Social engineering is the attempt of an unauthorized individual to persuade you into providing them with your confidential information. Through phone calls, texts, emails or even face to face conversations, scammers will pretend to be bankers, insurance representatives, health care providers, or other agencies in order to gain your trust and make you feel comfortable speaking to them and providing them information like bank account numbers, social security numbers, credit card information, etc. Putnam County National Bank will NEVER call, email or text you asking for your account number, debit card number, social security number or any other personal information. If you are ever unsure, trust your gut and hang up/ do not respond. You can always call us at 845-225-3688 to verify if it was a true bank representative you were speaking with. 

 

Scammers are smart enough to use what is going on in the world to bait you. Scam rates skyrocket during the holiday season so ensure that you think twice before you click on links in an email or respond to an unknown number. When big events are going on either Nationally or Internationally scammers will use this information to their advantage and will always have a clever way of confusing you or exciting you into clicking. A good rule of thumb is to always stop and think before you click! Is this an expected communication? Is everything spelled correctly - especially the "from" email? Is this communication encouraging me to act quickly? These can all be red flags that something isn't quite right.