Alerts on all types of accounts, not just your bank account, can help protect both your personal information and your money. They notify you when expected and unexpected activity occur.

First eAlerts and My Cards debit card controls at First Community Bank and Trust are easy to set up and customizable to best fit your needs. You can choose to receive account activity alerts in up to three different ways, ensuring you stay informed in real time. These alerts provide instant notifications about transactions, changes and balance updates, giving you immediate information to act on if anything was unauthorized.

• Push notification. This sends a message directly through the First eBanc Mobile app on your phone. For many users, this is the fastest and best way to get notifications. The alert comes straight from the app, it’s delivered securely and is virtually impossible to fake or impersonate. 

• SMS notification. This sends a text message to your mobile phone number. A text message is usually instant, but can vary by carrier. While they are generally difficult to spoof, text messages can be crafted by bad actors to closely resemble legitimate ones, making it more challenging to verify that the message is truly from the bank.

• Email notification. This sends an email notification to an email address. While convenient, email delivery is typically slower than the other two methods, and many people don’t check their email regularly or receive so many emails that important notifications are overlooked. Although the email itself cannot be faked, bad actors can make its contents look exactly like a legitimate bank email. This can make it potentially difficult to determine a real message from a fake message.

For those who are especially concerned about account security, alerts can be layered. Each alert can be delivered though more than one delivery method. Receiving the same alert through two different methods likely confirms that the message is valid, as a fraudster is unlikely to be able to fake a message through two channels at the same time.  

First eAlerts Worth Setting Up

Low Balance Alerts: Alerts can and should be set up for a low balance threshold. Pick a number that fits you and how you use your account. For example, if you typically maintain a $500.00 cushion, set your alert at that level. If your balance often dips to $25.00, then considering setting the alert for $24.00. This not only warns you if money has unexpectedly left your account, but it may help prevent an overdraft fee or a returned item from the bank.

Debit MasterCard Alerts: We also suggest that anyone with a FCBT Debit MasterCard should enable Non-Pinned Debit Card Transactions Alert. This alert notifies you whenever a debit card transaction occurs without the use of your 4-digit PIN. Since PIN-based transactions require a code known only to you and are rarely compromised, they are less likely to be fraudulent. Monitoring non-PIN transactions adds an extra layer of protection to your account.

Additional alerts are also available for changes like an updated email address or phone number, as well as for deposits made to your account.

My Cards Controls

Alerts are reactive to what happens on your account. With My Cards, you can take a proactive approach to managing your Debit MasterCard. Through the First eBanc Mobile app, you can turn your card off at any time, as often as needed. For example, you might turn it off if your card is temporarily misplaced or keep it off by default and only enable it when you’re ready to make a purchase. You can also customize how your card is used. If you don’t shop online and only use your card in person, you can restrict your card to in-store purchases only, preventing online purchases. You can even set spending limits, such as a maximum transaction amount of $325.00. These are just a few of the many ways you can take control of your debit card and enhance your account security

To learn more, check out these online tutorials in our Resource Center.

• Set Up Account Alerts with First eAlerts - https://resourcecenter.firstcbt.bank/content/38/set-up-account-alerts-in-first-ealerts 
• View Available Alerts in First eAlerts - https://resourcecenter.firstcbt.bank/content/12/view-available-alerts-in-first-ealerts   
• Turn Your Debit MasterCard On/Off - https://resourcecenter.firstcbt.bank/content/39/turn-your-debit-mastercard-on-off
• Set up Debit MasterCard Alerts - https://resourcecenter.firstcbt.bank/content/43/set-up-debit-mastercard-alerts  

Having the ability to prevent unwanted transactions and receive real-time alerts about account activity gives you the best chance to quickly identify and respond to fraudulent or unexpected changes. The sooner you notify us of suspicious activity, the sooner we can work with you to resolve the issue.

About First Community Bank and Trust
First Community Bank and Trust is a privately-owned bank. Established in 1916 First Community Bank and Trust has been serving Beecher, IL, Peotone, IL and the surrounding communities for over 109 years. Our commitment to providing the best banking products and services is matched only by our outstanding customer service. We offer traditional community banking services, including mortgage, consumer, and commercial lending, as well as state of the art electronic banking services.

Press Contact:
Steve Koehn, Senior Vice President
First Community Bank and Trust
(708) 946-2246