Month: April 2018

Categories
Blog Business Cash Management

6 Tips for Financial Spring Cleaning

As Americans kick off the spring season by cleaning, sorting and tidying up around the house, Pinnacle Bank is encouraging consumers to add financial organization to their spring cleaning to-do list.

To help, we have highlighted six tips for organizing your financial house:

  1. Review your budget. A lot can change in a year. If you’ve been promoted, had a child, or become a new homeowner or renter, be sure to update your budget. Determine what expenses demand the most money and identify areas where you can realistically cut back. Develop a strategy for spending and saving – and stick to it.
  2. Evaluate and pay down debt. Take a look at how much you owe and what you are paying in interest. Begin paying off existing debt, whether that’s by chipping away at loans with the highest interest rates or eliminating smaller debt first.
  3. Set up automatic bill pay. By signing up for automatic bill pay, you’ll never have to worry about a missed payment impacting your credit score. You can set it so that money is withdrawn from your checking account on the same day each month.
  4. Sign up for e-statements, paperless billing, and text alerts. Converting to paperless billing will help keep your house—physical and financial—more clean and organized, and will help protect you from fraud.
  5. Check your credit report. Every year, you are guaranteed one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus. Take advantage of these free reports and check them for any possible errors. Mistakes can drag down your score and prevent you from getting a loan, or cause you to pay a higher than necessary interest rate.
  6. Manage your money on the go. Utilize your bank’s mobile app to check your balance, pay your bills, transfer funds, deposit a check and send money to friends from wherever you are.
Categories
Blog Business Fraud & Security

8 Tips to Help Prevent Crime at ATMs

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There are more than 400,000 ATMs in the United States. At Pinnacle Bank, we do everything possible to keep our customers safe, especially when they are using one of our ATMs.

Pinnacle Bank takes a number of precautions to ensure that our customers have a safe environment including everything from installing surveillance cameras and lighting to setting withdrawal limits, but there is no substitute for good, cautious behavior on the part of the customer.

Please follow these eight safety tips when using any ATM:

  1. Keep your PIN number a secret. Never write it down or share it with anyone – not even family members.
  2. Be aware of your surroundings, particularly at night. Make sure the ATM is free of sight obstructions. If you observe suspicious persons or circumstances, do not use the machine.
  3. Bring someone with you when using an ATM at night. If you can’t, use an ATM that is located in a public area such as a convenience or grocery store.
  4. Have your ATM card ready and in your hand as you approach the ATM.
  5. Use your body to “shield” the ATM keyboard as you enter your PIN.
  6. Always take your receipts or transaction records with you.
  7. Do not count or visually display any money you received from the ATM. Immediately put your money into your pocket or purse and count it later.
  8. If you are using a drive-up ATM, be sure passenger windows are rolled up and all doors are locked. If you leave your car and walk to the ATM, lock your car.
Categories
Blog Business Fraud & Security

Fight ID Fraud Online

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Nearly three decades after the internet was introduced, the web continues to transform the lives of many users, revolutionizing the way consumers shop, pay bills, and transfer money online. As these advancements make common tasks hassle-free, consumers are urged to take extra precautions, allowing them to navigate the web safely and avoid online crime.

Here are eight ways you can safeguard your information and navigate the web safely:

  1. Keep your computers and mobile devices up to date. Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats. Turn on automatic updates so you receive the newest fixes as they become available.
  2. Set strong passwords. A strong password is at least eight characters in length and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
  3. Watch out for phishing scams. Phishing scams use fraudulent emails and websites to trick users into disclosing private account or login information. Do not click on links or open any attachments or pop-up screens from unfamiliar sources. Forward phishing emails to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at spam@uce.gov – and to the organization impersonated in the email.
  4. Keep personal information personal. Hackers can use social media profiles to figure out your passwords and answer those security questions in the password reset tools. Lock down your privacy settings and avoid posting things such birthdays, addresses, mother’s maiden name, etc. Be wary of requests to connect from people you do not know.
  5. Secure your internet connection. Always protect your home wireless network with a password. When connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, be cautious about what information you are sending over it. Consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) app to secure and encrypt your communications when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network.
  6. Be careful in the cloud. While using the cloud makes it easier to store and share large amounts of files, understand that it also opens other avenues for attack.
  7. Shop safely. Before shopping online, make sure the website uses secure technology. When you are at the checkout screen, verify that the web address begins with https. Also, check to see if a tiny locked padlock symbol appears on the page.
  8. Read the site’s privacy policies. Though long and complex, privacy policies tell you how the site protects the personal information it collects.
  9. Report any suspected fraud to Pinnacle Bank immediately.