since 1935 | #justbeyourself

Volume 4 | Issue 10 | October 2021
Our Mission: Providing financial solutions for every stage of life.

Dear Valued Member,

For many of us, it’s hard to remember how we got along without the convenience of electronic financial transactions. From automated bill payments and direct deposits to digital wallets and person-to-person cash transfers, a host of online and mobile banking services are now at our fingertips.

At the same time, we have learned that convenience requires caution. At Community First, we go to great lengths to secure our technology systems and protect your data. We provide the highest grade of security in our online and mobile platforms, and our cybersecurity team fights fraud and attacks every day.

These institution-level protections are vital, but each of us, individually, also has an important role to play in the fight against criminals who continue to find increasingly sophisticated ways to commit fraud, theft, and scams.

October is a great time of year to make sure you’re staying a step ahead of cyber crooks. In addition to being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s an opportunity to start preparing for the holiday season, when we tend to increase our spending, both online and in stores. You can get started by protecting your Community First accounts right now with these quick-and-easy precautions:

• Change your online password and username, being sure to choose a strong password that you use only for your Community First accounts.
• Watch for Debit Card Fraud Alerts, our automated system that identifies threats, notifies you fast and walks you through next steps.
• Alert us immediately if you think you’ve been a victim of fraud. The faster we know, the faster we can help you take action to prevent further problems and secure your accounts.

In addition to taking these simple steps, I highly recommend increasing your cybersecurity awareness and learning more about how to protect yourself from cybercrime year-round. The Community First security team works hard to maintain an up-to-date section of our website that provides information on a wide range of cyber threats — and how to combat them.

One common threat is called “phishing,” which earned its name because it so closely resembles actual fishing. Would-be scammers toss out “bait” in the form of email, telephone or even text and social media messages that attempt to lure you into a scam. They might try to get information they can use to access your accounts or scare you into sending them money. They often urge you to click on a link that could download a computer virus or even lock up your computer until you pay a ransom. Our Phishing webpage has tips for spotting the signs of fraudulent messages.

While the Community First website is a good place to start building your cybersecurity awareness, the Stay Safe Online site developed by the National Cybersecurity Alliance is probably the most comprehensive place to find information on nearly every type of cybersecurity threat. Geared toward consumers, it covers topics such as online security basics, securing your devices, managing your privacy and reporting cybercrime. It also has a list of free online security checkups and tools.

Serving our members is always our first priority and Community First, and we’re pleased to be able to offer you all the conveniences of electronic banking while also helping you keep your accounts safe and secure. ■