Take fraud prevention into your own hands and protect your accounts.
It's easy to feel like financial fraud is something you're powerless to fight. But it's not true. Take a look at these tips and guidelines to make sure you're careful about using Online Banking.
User ID and Password Guidelines
- Create a strong password with at least 8 characters that includes a combination of mixed-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Change your password frequently.
- Never share username and password information.
- Avoid using an automatic login feature that saves usernames and passwords.
General Guidelines
- Do not use public or other unsecured computers for logging into Online Banking.
- Check the last login date/time, displayed in the upper left-hand corner of Online Banking, every time you log in.
- If the system does not recognize your computer or location, you will be asked to provide additional information to log into Online Banking. This may include Out-of-Band Authentication via phone or SMS.
- Review account balances and detail transactions regularly (preferably daily) to confirm payment and other transaction data and report any suspicious transactions immediately. Contact your local branch office or call our Customer Service Center at 833.BERKBNK.
- Whenever possible, use Bill Pay instead of checks to limit account number exposure and to obtain better electronic record keeping.
- Take advantage of and regularly view system alerts, such as:
- Balance alerts
- Transfer alerts
- Password change alerts
- ATM/Debit Card alerts
- Bill Payment alerts
- Do not use account numbers, your Social Security number, or other account or personal information when creating account nicknames or other titles.
- Never leave a computer unattended while using Online Banking.
- Never conduct banking transactions while multiple browsers are open on your computer.
Tips to Avoid Phishing, Spyware and Malware
- Do not open email from unknown sources. Be suspicious of emails purporting to be from a financial institution, government department, or other agency requesting account information, account verification,or banking access credentials such as usernames, passwords, PIN codes, and similar information. Opening file attachments or clicking on web links in suspicious e-mails could expose your system to malicious code that could hijack your computer.
- Never respond to a suspicious e-mail or click on any hyperlink embedded in a suspicious email. Call the purported source if you are unsure who sent an email. If an email claiming to be from Berkshire Bank seems suspicious, contact us before opening.
- Update all of your computers regularly with the latest versions and patches of both anti-virus and anti-spyware software.
- Ensure computers are patched regularly, particularly operating systems, browsers, and key applications.
- Check your settings and select, at least, a medium level of security for your browser.
- Be advised that you will never be presented with a maintenance page after entering login credentials. Legitimate maintenance pages are displayed when first reaching the URL and before entering login credentials.
- Online Banking never displays pop-up messages indicating that you cannot use your current browser.
- Online Banking error messages never include an amount of time to wait before trying to login again.
- Be advised that repeatedly being asked to enter your user ID or password are signs of potentially harmful activity.
Berkshire Bank is a full-service financial institution with branches in MA, CT, VT, NY, and RI.