Protect Your Information

At The Palm Bank, we value the safety and privacy of your personal and financial information. We want to remind you to be constantly vigilant about protecting your personal and financial information.

Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information and identification.

Below are some important email and online security tips to keep in mind to guard your identity:

• Emails From The Palm Bank do not ask for your personal information. This includes your Social Security number, account numbers, personal credit information, or other identifying information.
• Act quickly if you suspect fraud. If you believe someone is trying to commit fraud by pretending to be The Palm Bank, please report the fraud immediately by call us at 813-873-7256.
• The Palm Bank does not have e-mail boxes titled “info@thepalmbank” or “customerservice@thepalmbank.” If you receive and email titled in this way, delete it!
• The legitimate address for The Palm Bank is www.thepalmbank.com. You should always type in this URL address or use a bookmarked site in your Favorites setting.
• Don’t reply to any email that requests your personal information. Be very suspicious of any email from a business or person that asks for your password, account numbers, Social Security number, or other highly sensitive information---one that sends you personal information and asks you to update or confirm it.
• Be careful before opening an attachment contained in an email or other message. Even a friend may accidentally send an email with a virus. The Palm Bank does not send e-mails with attachments unless previously discussed with you!
• Be on the alert for counterfeit “look alike” Web sites designed to trick you into submitting personal information. Make sure the Web sites on which you transact business post privacy and security statements, and review them carefully.
• Leave Suspicious Sites. If you suspect that a Web site is not what it purports to be, leave the site immediately. Do not follow any of the instructions it presents.
• If you are enrolled in our Internet Banking and Bill Payment product protect your user ID and password. You will be required to change your password periodically. You may change the password at any time if you feel it has been compromised.
• Keep your operating system and browser up to date. Software updates often include security enhancements that you can usually download free from www.microsoft.com and www.netscape.com.
• Make sure your home computer has the most current anti-virus software. A virus software needs frequent updates to guard against new viruses. Make sure you download the anti-virus updates as soon as you are notified that a download is available.
• Do business with only the companies you know and trust. Save or “bookmark” frequently visited and trusted websites to your list of favorites, then access those sites through your saved links.
• Remember to log out when finished and close your browser before leaving computer.

What can I do if I become a victim of Identity Theft?

• File a police report and call the Federal Trade Commission’s toll free “Identity Theft Hotline” at 1-877-438-4338
• Notify the three credit bureau’s fraud departments. Request that a “fraud alert” be placed on your file, as well as a victim’s statement asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts.
• To report a fraud:
        EQUIFAX
       1-800-525-6285
  
       EXPERIAN
       1-800-397-3742
  
       TRANS UNION
       1-800-680-7289
• Request a copy of your credit report. Credit reports are free to fraud victims.
• Contact your creditors for any accounts that have been opened fraudulently. Close
  your accounts and obtain new credit, debit, and ATM cards.
• Report any suspected stolen mail to your local postal inspector and check the post office for any unauthorized change of address requests.