With new technology and cryptology emerging every day, it’s becoming more and more important to be diligent with your credit and debit cards. Although that importance has always been a priority, hackers and identity thieves continue to come up with new ways to obtain your personal and financial information. While you may already be taking the extra effort to secure your accounts and keep your cards safe, there’s always room for new helpful information.
Here are some of the important steps you should be taking to ensure the security of your credit and debit cards:
Keep diligent when it comes to protecting your card.
There are a number of ways you can keep track of your card and what’s being spent. You can check your account balances in real time using Polam’s mobile banking app and online banking platform; the app CardValet lets you set geographical and spending limits on your card, and you can turn your card “off” if you feel it might be compromised. Safeguard your card by keeping it in your wallet or in a lockbox, and if it goes missing, call us immediately to have it canceled.
Be cautious when you’re using an ATM.
When you visit an ATM to withdraw cash, it’s good to be cognizant of your surroundings first. Your PIN should be something that isn’t “obvious” (i.e. a birthday or anniversary), and it’s a good idea to update it periodically. Take caution when using an ATM at night, and make sure no one can see you enter it. Also, make sure to take your receipt before you go, or opt to have the receipt sent to you via email.
Boost your online security.
Two-thirds of all Americans shop online on a semi-regular basis, and many online retailers (such as Amazon) save your credit card information to your account so you can check out more expediently. If you’re shopping online, make sure the site you’re visiting is trustworthy, and you can determine this by looking at the URL; if it starts with HTTPS, you know you’re on a secure site. If you’re creating an account online, whether it be social media (Facebook allows you to save credit card information) or an online retailer, choose a strong, complex password with no identifying information. If you’re using a shared computer to shop online, Google Chrome has an option for an “incognito” browser that doesn’t save personal information; however, it’s important to always log out of accounts on shared computers or devices.