Monterey County Bank
SECURITY CENTER



As part of Monterey County Bank’s on-going efforts to protect and secure customer information, the following resources have been provided to help educate our customers on information security and identity theft prevention.  We encourage you to take a moment to review these helpful guides to ensure you are taking proper steps to help protect your information or address identity theft and fraud.

Security Guides



 07/2012   Skimming Fraud [PDF]: Protect Yourself Against Debit Card Fraud
08/2012  Security Focus: ID Theft and Account Compromise [PDF]: Best Practices for Protecting Your Information
08/2012  FTC Brochure: Identity Theft [PDF]: What to Know, What to Do.
08/2012  FTC Brochure: Identity Theft [PDF]: Military Personnel & Families: What to Know, What to Do.
11/2012  Security Focus: The Attack of the Citadel Trojan [PDF]
12/2012  Security Focus: Things to Consider when using your Mobile Device [PDF]
03/2013  Security Focus: Tips To Help You Fight Debit Card Fraud [PDF]
12/2013  Security Focus: Safeguarding Your Information and Security Callbacks [PDF]
01/2014  Security Focus: Protect Yourself from Fraud [PDF]
04/2014  Security Focus: Password Security [PDF]
07/2014  Security Focus: Online Shopping [PDF]
11/2014  Security Focus: Computer Best Practices [PDF]
01/2015  Security Focus: Poodle Vulnerability [PDF]
05/2015  Security Focus: ATM Security [PDF]
08/2015  FTC: 10 Ways to Avoid Fraud
10/2015  Fraud & The New Technology: Text Pop Ups and Downloads
11/2015  FTC: Be Cautious of Phone Scams
02/2016  FTC: Money Wiring Scams
05/2016  CA DOJ: Getting Smart About Smartphones
09/2016  Security Focus: Cyber Security Best Practices [PDF]
12/2016  FTC: Heads Up
04/2017  FDIC: Protect Your Cyber Home
07/2017  FDIC: 10 Scams Targeting Bank Customers
10/2017  FTC: 10 Things You Can Do To Avoid Fraud [PDF]
01/2018   Stop Think Connect: CyberSecurity Basic Tips And Advice [PDF] 
04/2018   Stop Think Connect: Passwords and Securing Your Accounts [PDF]
07/2018  Stop Think Connect: Tips for using Public Computers & Wireless Networks [PDF]
10/2018  FTC: 10 Things You Can Do To Avoid Fraud - Update [PDF]
11/2018  FDIC: Holiday Online Shopping [PDF]
01/2019  Stop Think Connect: Safety Tips for Mobile Devices [PDF]
05/2019  Stop Think Connect: Digital Declutter [PDF]
06/2019  Stop Think Connect: Cyber Trip Advisor [PDF]
08/2019  FTC Government Imposter Scams [PDF]
10/2019   Stop Think Connect: Cyber Security Awareness Month [PDF]
11/2019  Stop Think Connect: Safe Online Shopping Tips [PDF]
02/2020   Stop Think Connect: Stay safe from Cybercrime during Tax Season [PDF]
03/2020  Security Focus: Coronavirus Cybersecurity [PDF]
04/2020  Security Focus: FTC Tips on Coronavirus Scam [PDF]
10/2020   CISA: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2020 [PDF]
11/2020   FDIC: Beware It's A Scam - Consumer News Oct 2020 [PDF]
02/2021  FTC: Keep Calm and Avoid Coronavirus Vaccine and Contact Call Scams [PDF]
04/2021  FTC: Gift Card Scams [PDF]
08/2021  Malware Tip Card [PDF]
10/2021   Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021: Protecting Your Digital Home Tip Sheet [PDF]
01/2022  Stop Think Connect: 5 Every Day Steps Towards Online Safety [PDF]
02/2022  FBI: Cybercriminals Tampering with QR Codes to Steal Victim Funds [PDF]
05/2022  CISA: 4 Tips to keep yourself Cyber Safe [PDF]
07/2022  NCA: Identity Management Tips and Advice [PDF]
10/2022  CISA: Holiday Online Safety [PDF]
01/2023  FTC: 4 Signs Its a Scam [PDF]
03/2023  FDIC: Tax Refund Time! Tips 2023 [PDF]
05/2023  FTC: Business Impersonator Scams [PDF]
09/2023  KnowBe4: Social Engineering Red Flags [PDF]
10/2023  CISA: Outsmart Online Outlaws [PDF]
11/2023  KnowBe4: Holiday Cybersecurity Tips [PDF]
01/2024  NCA How to protect yourself against deepfakes [PDF]
01/2024  FTC: IRS Email and Text Tax Refund Scams [PDF]

  Note: PDF documents will open in a new window.

FDIC Consumer News



FDIC Consumer News provides practical guidance on how to become a smarter, safer user of financial services. Issues and selected articles offer helpful hints, quick tips and common–sense strategies to protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars.

We encourage you to visit and/or subscribe to FDIC Consumer News to stay up-to-date on the latest information.

Visit: https://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/index.html

02/2019  FDIC: Tax Season and Your Refund Options [PDF]
11/2020  FDIC: Beware, It's a Scam! [PDF]

 

FDIConnect.com should not be confused with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
CA DBO Logo

[05/29/2019] The Department of Business Oversight (DBO) has been notified of a website, FDIConnect.com, that advertises itself as a bank-deposit broker that can obtain higher interest rates on bank deposits for consumers. FDIConnect.com is not licensed as a bank and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  Further, FDIConnect.com should not be confused with FDICconnect.gov, the official FDIC channel for FDIC-insured institutions.  The DBO notes that the choice of lettering in the name of the business and its advertising could be confusing.

The DBO urges consumers to exercise caution before responding to any website seeking deposits or promoting savings accounts or other offers. To check whether a financial service provider is licensed in California, or to file a complaint, go to the DBO website at www.dbo.ca.gov or call 1-866-275-2677. [Source]

 

Security Breaches: Protect Yourself From Fraud



Protecting your account and your personal information is a top priority for Monterey County Bank. In light of several recent security breaches involving various merchant retailers and vendors, our staff continues to work diligently to protect our clients and ensure your information is secure.

Monterey County Bank has an established relationship with Visa and MasterCard to receive ongoing alerts for any of our clients should card information be reported as compromised during a security breach. Bank staff members will make every effort to contact our cardholders who may have been compromised.  For your security and as a pre-caution, we may order you a new card and cancel the existing card. If you have been contacted by a bank representative and continue to notice suspicious activity on your account, please contact your local branch as soon as possible for further action.

If you have not been contacted by your bank or card company, it is still strongly recommended that you take any and all steps to protect yourself.

Customers who have provided personal information or used a credit and/or debit card at any location where a data security breach has been identified should take the following steps to protect their accounts:

  1. Check and monitor your bank and credit card statements for evidence of unauthorized transactions.
  2. Contact your Bank or Credit Card Company if you identify suspicious activity.
  3. Review and monitor your consumer credit report regularly.
  4. Know that cardholders are not held responsible for fraudulent charges made by unauthorized parties if reported promptly to the card issuer.

Have you become a victim of Fraud or Identity Theft



If Your Credit, Debit, or ATM Card Information has been compromised:

    ♦ Report the incident to the card issuer as quickly as possible.

    ♦ Report using toll-free numbers and 24-hour service that many companies have established to deal with such emergencies.

    ♦ Request your card issuer close your compromised account number and reissue you a new card with a different number.

    ♦ Monitor your account activity and review account statements carefully after the information loss.

    ♦ If any unauthorized charges appear, call the card issuer immediately.
         •  Follow up with a hard copy letter describing each questionable charge.

If Your Bank Account Information has been compromised:

    ♦ Report the compromise of this information to your bank as quickly as possible.

    ♦ Request your bank close the compromised account and re-open a like account with a different number.

If Your Personal Identification Information has been compromised:

If you believe your personal information (such as your name, address, and Social Security number) has been used fraudulently, contact the three major credit reporting agencies and do the following:

    ♦ Request that the agencies place a fraud alert and a victim's statement in your file.

    ♦ Request a free copy of your credit report to check whether any accounts were opened without your consent.

    ♦ Request that the agencies remove inquires and/or fraudulent accounts stemming from the theft.

Access the FTC: Identity Theft - What To Do Right Away [PDF] checklist for step by step actions to address Identity Theft.

Credit Reporting Agencies



 Experian Equifax  Trans Union

 To Order a Credit Report
or Report Fraud

To Order a Credit Report
or Report Fraud
To Order a Credit Report
or Report Fraud

Visit:
www.experian.com

Visit:
www.equifax.com

Visit:
www.transunion.com 


To Order Your FREE Annual Credit Report
Visit: 
www.annualcreditreport.com OR call: 1-(877)-FACTACT [322-8228]  

 

Security Statement



For information on the security features Monterey County Bank has implemented for your protection, please review our Security Statement

Monterey County Bank takes your account security and privacy very seriously, and although the Bank does not routinely monitor customer accounts for unauthorized activities, we will promptly investigate any improper charges or breaches of your privacy which you bring to our attention, or which are referred to us by a governing agency.

As a reminder, no Bank employee or any company affiliated with the Bank will contact you via email or by phone requesting your Internet Banking log in information.  If you are contacted or received communication from anyone requesting that information, please do not release any personal identifying information and contact the Bank immediately.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of our local branches to speak with a bank representative.


 This page revised as of: 2024.0123

Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC  MCB Credit Card Support