• Build strong passwords for your accounts and make them all different.
• Create passwords that are hard to guess and include a combination of numbers, special characters, uppercase and lowercase letters.
• Avoid using names, dates, or common words.
• Set up alerts for your account through Online Banking. To learn more, click here.

Wifi hotspots in coffee shops, libraries, airports, hotels, and other public places are convenient, but often not secure. If you connect to a Wi-Fi network and send information through websites or mobile apps, it might be accessed by someone else. For more tips and information on using public Wi-Fi access, click here. 

In addition to paying close attention to the internet connection used when accessing your financial information, here are a few tips to protect your smartphone as well:

• Set your phone to lock automatically. When you don’t use your phone for a few minutes, the phone should automatically lock itself and require a password to reopen.
• Use passwords for your phone. In addition to a password to unlock your phone, use different passwords for each shopping or financial app. Don’t share your passwords with anyone.
• Use your phone’s data network if you can’t verify that a public Wi-Fi connection is secure.
• Be cautious when connecting to Bluetooth. Bluetooth makes it easier for you to connect your phone with other devices, but, it also makes it easier for thieves to steal your personal information. If you connect to Bluetooth, make sure it’s in a private, uncrowded area and don’t forget to turn off Bluetooth when you aren’t using it.