May 2, 2019 - In recognition of World Password Day, the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) and First Community Bank and Trust are reminding customers of simple steps to safeguard their personal account information and what to do if they suspect they have been affected by a reported breach. 

“You don’t have to be a cyber security expert to protect yourself against hackers and identity theft. Small actions like creating strong passwords, using different passwords for different accounts, and exercising caution when sharing personal information online, can make a huge impact in your risk exposure,” said Greg Ohlendorf, President and CEO of First Community Bank and Trust. “By working together, we can ensure a safer, more resilient internet for everyone, while fighting against the rising tide of cyber attacks.” 

Reduce Your Risk Exposure 

While there is no foolproof way to avoid online identity theft, you can minimize your risk by: 

• Limiting information disclosed—Never respond to text messages, emails or phone calls that request sensitive personal information such as your banking ID, account numbers, user name or password, even if the messages appear to originate from First Community Bank and Trust, government agencies or officials or companies with which you have a relationship. 
• Taking advantage of security features—Update your computer security software and apply software updates to your computer system, mobile devices, web browsers and operating system to defend against viruses, malware and other online threats.

• Monitoring account activity—Pay attention to your statements and check your credit report regularly for suspicious activity, such as unusual or unexplained charges, unknown accounts in your name, or unexpected denials on your card. You can do this quickly and easily with First eAlerts, which notifies you of activity on your account in real-time. This service is a great way to protect your accounts and catch any potential Debit Card fraud as soon as it occurs. 

• Contact us immediately if you notice anything unusual. 

Respond to a Data Breach

In the unfortunate event of a data breach, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk: 

• Consider a security freeze on your credit report to restrict access to your credit file. 
• Shred documents with personal or sensitive information and change your passwords. 
• Report stolen finances or identities and other cyber crime to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and to your local law enforcement and/or state attorney general.

Learn more about how to protect your digital life by visiting the Stay Safe Online website. 

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 100 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.