Identity Protection



Take important steps to safeguard your identity and Golden State Bank accounts


Identity theft remains a serious concern for everyone. By remaining vigilant, you can help prevent identity theft and the financial fraud that follows. Even simple actions, like the ones described below, can better protect your sensitive personal information.

Guarding Against Identity Theft

  • Remove mail promptly from your mailbox. Never use your mailbox for outgoing mail. Identity thieves raid mailboxes for credit card offers and statements.
  • Guard your Social Security number.
  • Do not give out your PIN or debit card/credit card number over the phone unless you initiated the transaction.
  • Be careful with receipts. Make sure you have them when you leave the store or ATM and do not throw them into public trash bins.
  • Destroy pre-approved credit card offers before you throw them out.
  • Account for all new checkbooks when you receive them in the mail.
  • Commit all passwords and PINs to memory so no one can see them in writing.
  • When using ATMs, block the screen with your body to prevent someone from learning your PIN.
  • Make sure you only disclose your personal information to a trustworthy source. Note: Golden State Bank will never call or email you to request or verify your personal information.
  
Read more about preventing identity theft with these resources from the U.S. government.















Steps to take

Monitoring your credit report helps you identify suspicious activity, such as unauthorized accounts opened in your name. Contact the three major credit bureaus:

  • Avoid sending sensitive information, such as account numbers, through unsecured email.
  • Use passwords or PINs to access an account online, changing them periodically.
  • Keep your computer's virus protection updated and use physical access controls to restrict unauthorized use.
  • Keep your computer patched and updated to eliminate potential security vulnerabilities.
  • Immediately contact us 909.981.8000 if you think you are a victim of identity theft or if you notice something suspicious.
  • Close your accounts and create new passwords for any new accounts.
  • Contact the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report and request that no new credit be granted without your approval.
  • Fill out a police report to detail what happened. Retain a copy of the completed report in case you need it when working with creditors and financial institutions.
If a victim of an internet crime, file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (ICB)