The Newsroom
1st National Bank Offers Electronic Solutions to Businesses
Big Bank Solutions with a Community Bank Approach
1st National Bank takes efficiency and sustainability seriously. The financial world has historically been known for providing and processing paper checks and paper documentation. Business owners are especially impacted by costs associated with collecting and making payments. As a community bank, 1st National Bank believes in providing businesses with financial solutions that promote a healthy and efficient environment.
Has your company considered streamlining business processes with electronic banking solutions? Direct deposit for employees, direct payment, and EZdeposit are electronic banking solutions that replace the paper trail which in turn helps protect the earth's natural resources. Best of all, business owners find that working more electronically improves efficiency and accuracy.
Have you considered direct deposit of payroll for your employees? Whether you are a business owner or an employee, direct deposit turns the paper check into an electronic payment, reducing the amount of paper needed for checks, envelopes, and stamps along with fuel and transportation. Employees receive their payroll right in their bank account rather than making a separate trip to the bank.
How can you start using direct deposit? If you are a business owner, 1st National Bank can help you go green and save money on your payroll processing. Direct deposit is available to companies of all sizes for payroll, pension, annuity and interest payments, expense and travel reimbursements, dividend payments and bonuses. If you are an employee and tired of driving your check to the bank, talk to your employer about direct deposit.
How would you like to collect payments from frequent customers more efficiently than making a trip to the post office to check the mail, driving to the bank to deposit the check, and then entering the information into your accounting software? Direct Payment is an electronic transfer of payments from a customer checking or savings account directly to a businesses' or charitable organization's account. This electronic procedure simplifies the payment process for both business owners and customers. Direct Payment is ideal for companies collecting recurring payments or charitable donations of all sizes.
Does your business primarily accept checks? Are you spending quality time on road to get to the bank in order to deposit those checks with fuel prices at nearly $4 per gallon? 1st National Bank makes it possible to deposit checks 24/7 electronically with a remote deposit capture solution – EZdepositTM. Using a check scanner and a computer, checks can be sent securely through the electronic payment processing network to the bank and deposited into your account on the same business day.
Electronic solutions from 1st National Bank can integrate information with accounting software such as QuickBooks. Electronically processing payments can mean less paperwork and transportation costs for business owners and their employees. 1st National Bank offers 'big-bank' technology but with community bankers to assist at implementation as well as throughout the process. This way, business owners are not left to figure it out on their own.
1st National Bank provides "go green" solutions to business clients and is constantly looking for ways to help clients utilize electronic services such as eStatements and online bill pay to reduce the amount of paper that is consumed. Not only are these timesavers for clients, they are also more secure than snail mail.
March 23rd, 2012
Credit Card Fraud in the Midwest
A credit card scam is taking place in the Midwest part of the country where fraudsters provide you with all of your card information, except the one piece they want - the code on the back of the card. The callers do not ask for your card number because they already have it even though you have your card in your possession. By understanding how this Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
The caller will say:
"This is (name) and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA.
My Badge number is 12460 and your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern on your VISA card, issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona?"
When you say 'No', the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?" You say 'yes'.
The caller continues, "I will be starting a Fraud Investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1-800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number controll number."
IMPORTANT: How does the scam work?
The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." The caller will ask you to turn your card over and look for some numbers. There are 7 numbers and the first 4 are part of your card number and the last 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the last 3 numbers. The caller will verify the numbers you have given him or her by saying, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say no, the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you have questions," and hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number.
Recently, a scam victim did call the number on the back of the card (1-800-VISA) and the actual VISA Security Department told the caller that it was a scam. The caller also learned that in the last 15 minutes, a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to their card. The victim made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account and VISA issued a new card.
What are the fraudsters after?
What the fraudsters want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master Card directly for verification of their conversation.
Remember, credit card companies will never ask for any information on your card as they already know the information since they issued the card!
If you give the scammers the numbers on the back of the card, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make. By that time, it is almost too late, and is more difficult, to file a fraud report.
It appears that this is a very active scam in the Midwest area of the country, including Wisconsin, and is quite successful.
Protect yourself by never giving your credit card information to a caller for any purpose. Should you need to provide your card number, be sure you have initiated the call and only give your card number to trusted companies. Be sure to carefully review your statements, checking for any unauthorized purchases.
For more information on scams, how to report scams, and what to do if you are a victim, please visit:
http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/reporting.php
or
http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/e-scams
February 27th, 2012
Beware of Fraudulent Emails from Phishers Claiming to be Intuit
Intuit is an American software company that develops financial and tax preparation software and related services for small businesses, accountants and individuals. Intuit is an industry giant and unfortunately, like many large companies, Intuit recently became a victim of Phishing Email schemes.
Many small business owners use QuickBooks for their business accounting and many individuals use Mint.com and Quicken as personal financial management tools. Intuit owns these subsidiaries so the businesses and people using these resources could receive Phishing emails.
If you received one of these emails, do not respond or click on the email. Immediately delete the email. If you have questions about your account, contact Intuit directly.
February 10th, 2012
Be Aware of Fraudulent Emails Known as Phishing Attacks
As a valued client of 1st National Bank, we wanted to share this important information with you.
The National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA - the governing body of the ACH network) has recently issued alerts pertaining to a rise in "phishing attacks" in which consumers and businesses are receiving emails that appear to come from NACHA. The attacks are occurring with greater frequency and increased sophistication. It is important for you to understand the sustained and evolving nature of these attacks.
These fraudulent emails typically make reference to an ACH transfer, payment, or transaction and contain a link or attachment that infects the computer with malicious code when clicked on by the email recipient. The content of these fraudulent emails vary, with more recent examples including a counterfeit NACHA logo and the citation of NACHA's physical mailing address and telephone number. The link may also direct you to another website and ask for account information. Perpetrators are conducting similar phishing attacks in which they are sending fraudulent emails that claim to be from the Federal Reserve Bank, IRS, and other federal agencies.
NACHA itself does not process nor touch the ACH transactions that flow to and from organizations and financial institutions. Please be aware that NACHA will never contact you about individual ACH transactions. NACHA is the industry trade association that manages the development, administration, and governance of the ACH Network; the backbone for the electronic movement of money and data.
1st National Bank would contact you directly with any issues pertaining to an ACH payment or transfer that we made on your behalf.
As a business partner we caution you about opening attachments or following Web links in unsolicited emails from unknown parties or from parties with whom you do not normally communicate with, or that appear to be known but are suspicious or otherwise unusual.
If malicious code is detected or suspected on a computer, you should consult with a computer security or anti-virus specialist to remove malicious code or re-install a clean image of the computer system. Additionally it is always a good idea to use anti-virus software and ensure that the virus signatures are automatically updated. Ensure that the computer operating systems and common software application security patches are installed and current.
If you receive one of these emails, you are asked to forward the email to abuse@nacha.org for analysis.
