Best Practice

• Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
• Before throwing away, destroy copies, ATM receipts and all financial documentation by tearing up or shredding items.
• Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly.
• Report any questionable charges promptly.
• Report lost or stolen checks immediately.
• Store cancelled checks – and new checks – in a safe place.
• Notify us immediately if you receive a suspicious phone call from someone purporting to represent the bank and asking for account information “to verify a statement” or “award a prize”.  Call the bank number, 936-398-2566 if you receive this kind of call from someone who says he or she represents your bank.
• Store your card number and PIN separately, and never write your PIN on your card
• Periodically contact the major credit reporting agencies to review your credit file and be sure all information is correct.  For a small fee, you can obtain a copy of your credit report at any time.  Contact the agencies at the numbers listed below:
       Equifax 800.685.1111
       Experian 888.397.3742
       TransUnion 800.916.8800
• If you lose your debit card or it is stolen, please call: Regular banking hours 936- 398-2566 or After Hours 1-833-311-0059. By law, once you report the loss or theft, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges. In any event, your maximum liability under federal law is up to $50 if reported within the designated time frame.

If you suspect account fraud, please immediately follow these steps

• Contact all financial institutions with which you have accounts, including all credit card issuers.  Be sure to include specific retail charge cards as well.  You may contact Citizens State Bank at 936-398-2566.
• Contact the major check verification companies to request that retailers using their databases be notified not to accept the stolen checks.  You may contact these companies at the numbers listed below:
       Telecheck 800.710.9898
       Certigy 800.437.5120
• File a police report with your local police department.
• Contact the three major credit bureaus and request a copy of your credit report.  Review your reports for additional fraudulent activity.  Request a “fraud alert” for your file and a victim’s statement asking creditors to call you before opening any new accounts or changing existing ones.
• Watch for stolen mail.  If you suspect that any mail is not being delivered to you, confirm with the sender and contact your local post office and police.  Keep written records of the incident.  Include what happened, what was lost or stolen, and what steps you took to report the incident to law enforcement and the various agencies, banks and firms involved.  Be sure to include the date, time, telephone numbers called, whom you spoke to and any other relevant information.