Tips to Protect Yourself

Bank of Bourbonnais takes every precaution to make sure your account and personal information remain safe. Below are some simple steps you can take to minimize your chances of becoming a victim of fraud and identity theft.

1. Free Annual Credit Report
2. Identity Theft Precautions
3. Email and Internet Safeguards

It is important to review your credit report at least once a year to ensure that the information is correct and free of any suspicious activity. Under the FACT Act amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you are entitled to one free Personal Credit Report in a 12 month period. To request this free annual report, you may contact the Central Source online at www.annualcreditreport.com or call toll free (877) FACT ACT (322-8228).

In addition, a credit report can be ordered from each of the credit bureaus listed below. The credit bureaus charge a fee for the credit report, however, this fee is waived if you meet certain criteria such as being turned down for credit in the past 60 days.

		Order Credit Report
Equifax	www.equifax.com	800-685-1111
Experian	www.experian.com	888-397-3742
TransUnion	www.transunion.com	800-916-8800

Identity Theft Precautions:

• Delete suspicious emails from unknown sources without opening them.
• Never provide personal information over the phone or the Internet if you did not initiate the contact. Bank of Bourbonnais will NEVER ask you for any private information (such as account numbers, \ passwords, social security numbers, etc.) through an unsolicited email.
• Purchase a shredder and shred financial and personal documents you no longer need, such as credit card offers, pay stubs and utility bills, before discarding them.
• Only carry necessary identification in your wallet or purse. For example, do not carry your Social Security card.
• Do not print your Social Security number on your checks.
• When a Social Security number is requested, confirm that it is actually needed rather than some other identifier.
• Use online banking to pay your bills online. The fewer personal documents sent through the mail, the less chance there is for identity theft.
• Closely monitor your bank account statements and credit card bills. Contact your financial institution immediately if there's a discrepancy in your records or if you notice something suspicious, such as a missing payment or an unauthorized withdrawal.
• Do not send confidential information such as account numbers and passwords over the Internet in an email.
• Avoid using public computers, such as those in libraries, hotels or Internet cafes to connect to online banking sites because of the risk of spyware residing on the public equipment.
• Reduce the number of credit offers you receive by contacting the National Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies at 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visiting their site at www.optoutprescreen.com. You can opt out of receiving credit offers for five years or opt out of receiving them permanently.

• Delete suspicious emails from unknown sources without opening them.
• Do not click on links in an unsolicited email asking for personal information. Bank of Bourbonnais will NEVER ask you for any private information (such as account numbers, passwords, social security numbers, etc.) through an unsolicited email.
• If you receive an email that warns you, with little or no notice, that an account of yours will be shut down unless you reconfirm your personal information, do not reply or click on the link in the email. Call the company cited in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine to confirm if the request is authentic.
• Do not send confidential information such as account numbers and passwords over the Internet in an email.
• Before submitting confidential information through a website, make sure the connection is secure. Normally, the URL address will begin with "https://". You should also see a locked padlock icon at the bottom of your browser window.
• Always log off websites where you have entered a User ID and Password when you are done with your online banking session.
• Install virus protection software on your computer and remember to update it frequently.
• Keep your online banking password secure. Do not share your password or use obvious or easily obtainable information such as your name or date of birth. Select a password that uses both letters and numbers to make it harder to guess.