At First State Bank, your privacy is important to us.  We are committed to protecting your personal information and use proven technology to do so.

Your responsibilities

You are responsible for protecting your password and account information by not disclosing your personal account information to others (including your ATM PIN, online username, and password).  See below for more tips on securing your computer and protecting your identity.

Online Security Tips

• Use a current web browser.
• Avoid downloading programs from unknown sources.
• Do not use your Social Security number as a username or password. Change your usernames and passwords regularly and use combinations of letters, numbers, and "special characters" such as “pound” (#) and “at” (@) signs. If your current First State Bank Online Banking username or password is your Social Security number, call the Bank today and ask for an Online Banking representative to have this changed.
• Protect your online passwords. Don’t write them down or share them with anyone. Please note that we will never ask you to provide your password via email.
• Protect your answers to security questions. Select questions and provide answers that are easy for you to remember, but hard for anyone else to guess. Do not write down your security questions or answers or share them with anyone. If you have selected security questions on other websites, avoid using the same questions to protect your First State Bank online account. Please note that we will never ask you to provide answers to your security questions via email.
• Use secure websites for transactions and shopping. Shop with merchants you know and trust. Make sure Internet purchases are secured with encryption to protect your account information. Look for “secure transaction” symbols like a lock symbol in the lower right-hand corner of your web browser window, or “https://…” in the address bar of the website. The “s” indicates "secured" and means the web page uses encryption.
• Always log off from any website after making a purchase with your credit or debit card. If you cannot log off, shut down your browser to prevent unauthorized access to your account information.
• Close your browser when you’re not using the Internet.
• If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Computer Security Tips

• Keep your computer’s operating system up-to-date with the latest security patches to ensure the highest level of protection.
• Install a personal firewall on your computer.
• Install, run, and keep anti-virus software updated.
• Conduct online banking activities on secure computers only. Public computers (computers at Internet cafes, copy centers, etc.) should be used with caution, due to shared use and possible tampering. Online banking activities and viewing or downloading documents (statements, etc.) should only be conducted on a computer you know to be safe and secure.

Email Security Tips

• Be wary of suspicious emails. Never open attachments, click on links, or respond to emails from suspicious or unknown senders.
• If you receive a suspicious email that you think is a phish email, do not respond or provide any information. Call First State Bank immediately for further information.
• If you respond to a phish email with personal information, contact First State Bank for further information.

Links to useful privacy and security informational and reporting sites