Online Banking FAQ
Q: What can I do with Online Banking?
A: With Internet banking, you have control over nearly every aspect of managing your accounts. You can:
- View the transaction history on all of your Online Banking accounts.
- Transfer funds between your authorized Online Banking accounts.
- Pay one-time, occasional, and recurring payments online.
- Download account information into Quicken® or Microsoft® Money.
- Send and receive secure electronic messages to and from our financial institution.
Q: What do I need to enroll for Online Banking?
A: You must have an account with us, and you must have a secure Internet connection. Our Online Banking system currently is best viewed with the latest versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox. Your browser must also be SSL compliant with 128-bit encryption. Click on one of the icons below to download a browser that is SSL compliant:
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Q: Can I view transactions in all accounts through Online Banking? How far back?
A: Our Online Banking system stores up-to-date history on all of your authorized Online Banking accounts. The amount of history available may vary depending on the type of account.
Q: What customer service options are available through Online Banking?
A: As always, you can telephone us during business hours for questions regarding your accounts. However, you can send us secure encrypted emails from within your Online Banking session with any questions you may have regarding your accounts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Incoming messages will alert you to important events and news concerning your accounts.
Q: If I sign up for Online Banking can I still receive monthly statements through the mail?
A: Yes, when you sign up for Online Banking you will continue receiving paper statements by mail. You also have the option to receive your monthly statements electronically through Online Banking as a PDF document. If you prefer a paper statement by mail each month then you do not have to make any changes once you are approved for Online Banking. If you would like to receive electronic statements you simply click on the "Statements" link for each of your Online Banking accounts and agree to the electronic statements disclosure.
Security FAQ
Q: What type of security do you offer?
A: Our Online Banking system uses many lines of defense to protect your account information. From authentication, SSL, exclusive encryption software, high-end firewalls, and automatic sign-off, you’re information is always safe -- it’s like having a bank vault online.
Q: What is encryption and how does it work?
A: Encryption turns meaningful words and phrases into coded language. Everything that you do during your Online Banking session becomes a string of unrecognizable numbers before it is transmitted across the Internet. Your account information will read as gibberish to everyone but you and our financial institution. All of your Online Banking sessions will be encrypted. We employ the strongest forms of cryptography that are commercially available for use over the Internet.
Q: What is 128-bit encryption?
A: A 128-bit encryption means there are approximately 340,282,366,920,938,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 possible keys that could fit into the lock that holds your account information, but only one that works for each Online Banking session. (Try '2^128' on your calculator!) This level of encryption is so powerful that the U.S. government lists this encryption as a federal munition - meaning browsers that offer it can only be used and downloaded by citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada. It would be significantly easier to tap your phone or to intercept your mail to acquire your bank account or credit card information than to somehow intercept and decode Internet Data.
Q: What does SSL mean?
A: SSL stands for "Secure Socket Layer." This technology allows users to establish sessions with secure Internet sites - meaning they have minimal risk of external violation. Once inside the Online Banking site, our use of SSL technology keeps you and your account information secure.
Q: What types of security measures are taken to prevent sensitive information from being intercepted online?
A: From the moment account information leaves your computer to the time it enters the Online Banking system, we take numerous steps to ensure your information is secure in cyberspace. We make sure only authorized people with secure browsers can access our system.
- You must enter your passcode, and we must verify it before you are allowed to access your accounts.
- Only browsers supporting the SSL security protocol can be used to log on to our system.
- Once online, we make sure only you can view any information about your accounts.
- SSL uses a digital signature to make sure that no one can send you false information; your browser will only accept information from the Online Banking system.
- SSL also uses the highest level of encryption supported by your browser to encrypt all information before it is sent. This ensures that only the browser that logged on can read any information the system supplies
Q: What can I do to protect my account information while I am online?
A: We take numerous steps to keep your account information secure. However, you must take precautions as well.
- Choose a good passcode - Your online passcode, along with your access ID, authenticate you when you begin an Online Banking session. You should carefully select a passcode that is hard to guess. You should not use personal information or a word that can be found in the dictionary.
- Keep your passcode safe - Even the best passcode is worthless if it’s written on a note attached to your computer or in your checkbook. Memorize your passcode and never tell it to anyone. We do not need your passcode to help you, so we will never ask you for it.
- Change your passcode regularly - It’s important to change your passcode regularly. Every time you choose a new passcode, the Online Banking system runs a quick program to test it. If we can guess it, we will immediately ask you to choose another one.
- Remember to sign-off properly - You may not always be at your own computer when your bank online. Therefore, it’s important to sign off when you’re finished banking. If you forget to do so, the system automatically signs you off after 10 minutes of inactivity. This will prevent anyone else from accessing your account.
Q: How do I know if my session is encrypted?
A: You can determine if you are in a secure session by looking for the following lock icons in the status bar of your respective browser:
| Browser | Secure | Insecure |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Internet Explorer |  |
No icon |
| Google Chrome |  |
No icon |
| Mozilla Firefox |  |
No icon |
| Apple Safari |  |
No icon |
| *Different web browsers display these icons in different areas of their windows. All browsers offer information on the level of security they provide. | ||
Q: What happens if an unauthorized person uses my access ID and passcode?
A: You must notify us immediately if you believe your access ID or passcode has been compromised or if an unauthorized transaction has occurred. If you tell us within two banking days after you learn of a loss or theft, you can lose no more than $50.00.