At Bank of Bridger, it is of the utmost importance to do everything we can to protect our customers and partners. There are unfortunately a lot of people that try to take advantage of false trust, misdirection, misinformation, and other tactics designed to gain access to your personal and financial information. This page serves to provide some guidance on the different threats that are common in the modern digital world, and things you can do to minimize your risk.
Fraud Alerts
! Attention Debit & ATM Card Holders
Customers may receive either a text message or telephone call stating that they need to re-activate their ATM or Debit card, which was closed due to recent fraud activity. We recorded several numbers all from various states, some of which were linked to phone messaging systems and others that were tied back to unsuspecting legitimate businesses.
This sort of activity which is referred to as “Vishing” is a form of social engineering over the phone system and or cellular phone using text messaging in order to manipulate the customer to gain access to private personal and financial information. The process is explained below.
- The fraudster configures a phone dialer to call phone numbers in a given region or accesses a legitimate voice messaging company with a list of phone numbers stolen from a financial institution.
- When the customer answers the call, an automated recording, often generated with a text to speech synthesizer, is played to alert the consumer that their credit card has had fraudulent activity or that their bank account has had unusual activity. The message instructs the consumer to call the following phone number immediately. The same phone number is often shown in the spoofed caller ID and given the same name as the financial company they are pretending to represent.
- When the customer calls the number, it is answered by automated instructions to enter their credit card number or bank account number on the key pad.
- Once the consumer enters their credit card number or bank account number, the visher has the information necessary to make fraudulent use of the card or to access the account.
- The call is often used to harvest additional details such as security PIN, expiration date, date of birth, etc.
If you believe you may be a victim of a Phishing or Vishing attack, or would like to report fraudulent activity, please contact us.
To learn more about the types of fraud and how to protect yourself, visit our fraud prevention page.
Notice of expiration of the temporary full FDIC insurance coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts
By operation of federal law, beginning January 1, 2013, funds deposited in a noninterest-bearing transaction account (including an Interest on Lawyer Trust Account) no longer will receive unlimited deposit insurance coverage by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Beginning January 1, 2013, all of a depositor’s accounts at an insured depository institution, including all noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, will be insured by the FDIC up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount ($250,000), for each deposit insurance ownership category.
For more information about FDIC insurance coverage of noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, visit http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/unlimited/expiration.html
For More Information from the FDIC
Calculate your insurance coverage using the FDIC’s Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator: Click Here to Estimate
Learn more about FDIC Insurance: Find out More ›
News
On Oct. 3, 2008, President Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which temporarily raises the basic limit on federal deposit insurance coverage from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor.
FDIC Insurance Coverage
- The Bank of Bridger Basic FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage Limits*
- Single Accounts (owned by one person) $250,000 per owner
- Joint Accounts (owned by two or more persons) $250,000 per co-owner
- IRAs and certain other retirement accounts $250,000 per owner
- Trust Accounts $250,000 per owner per beneficiary subject to specific limitations and requirements.
* These deposit insurance coverage limits refer to the total of all deposits that an accountholder (or accountholders) has at each FDIC-insured bank. The listing above shows only the most common ownership categories that apply to individual and family deposits, and assumes that all FDIC requirements are met.
Fraud is a term that has become part of our everyday vocabulary. You probably hear variations of fraud ranging from identity theft, online fraud, such as phishing and pharming, to offline fraud, including credit card, phone solicitations, print fraud, check scams, and mail fraud. You can help protect your personal information and accounts by using caution when providing confidential information. Also, by keeping yourself updated on the latest fraud alerts, you can help prevent yourself from becoming a victim.
Learn How to Protect Yourself from FraudThe FDIC has created a webpage to inform and warn consumers about a type of fraud called “phishing.” The term “phishing” – as in fishing for confidential information – refers to a scam that encompasses fraudulently obtaining and using an individual’s personal or financial information. Click here to view the FDIC webpage.
Please visit our Money IQ page for recent articles and tips for anything banking related. You will find helpful information from scams to refinancing.
HelpWithMyBank.gov provides information and assistance for customers of national banks and federal savings associations.
Visit helpwithmybank.gov
What is an Overdraft?
Overdrafts are when you spend more money than the available balance in your account. The overdraft may be covered, declined or returned. Fees can also be charged for overdrafts. Overdrafts can be created by returned deposit items, checks, in-person withdrawals, ATM withdrawals and other electronic means.
Understanding your account balance is important part of avoiding overdraft fees. We use the actual ledger balance method to determine whether your account is overdrawn, that is, whether there is enough money in your account to pay for a transaction. Importantly, your ledger balance may not be the same as your account’s available balance. This means an overdraft or an NSF (Non-Sufficient Funds) transaction could occur regardless of your account’s available balance. Your account’s actual balance (sometimes called the ledger balance) only includes transactions that have settled up to that point in time, that is, transactions that have posted to your account. The actual balance does not include outstanding transactions (such as checks that have not yet cleared and electronic transactions that have been authorized but which are still pending). The balance on your periodic statement is the ledger balance for your account as of the statement date. Our available balance takes transactions that have been authorized, but not yet settled, and subtracts them from the actual balance. In addition, when calculating your available balance, any “holds” placed on deposits that have not yet cleared are also subtracted from the actual balance.
How much do Overdraft fees cost?
NSF (Non-Sufficient Funds) Paid Item Fee = $28
NSF Return Item Fee = $28
Continuous Overdraft Charge (every seven calendar days account is overdrawn) = $28
Daily Maximum NSF Paid Item Fees = $140
Daily Maximum NSF Return Item Fees = $140
Returned Deposit Item Fee = $0
*NSF/Overdraft Fees apply to overdrafts created by returned deposit items, checks, in-person withdrawals, ATM withdrawals and other electronic means.
*An item (such as check or pre-authorized payment) may be presented multiple times, and we do not monitor or control the number of times a transaction is presented for payment. An NSF Paid Item Fee or NSF Returned Item Fee will be charged each time an item is presented if funds are not sufficient.
Here are some helpful tips for avoiding overdraft fees:
- Use Online Banking and/or Mobiliti to keep track of your transactions and balances. Be sure to write everything down in a register.
- Set up Account Alerts. You can set up balance alerts, overdrawn alerts and more! You can receive these alerts thru text and/or email.
- Set up Account Sweeps. You can tie your savings account to your checking to cover overdrafts.
- We charge $2 for each savings withdrawal or transfer in excess of three during any month.
- Ready Reserve Loan
- Ready Reserve Advance fee $2 & Ready Reserve Annual Fee $35. This amount will have to be paid back. Credit approval is required. Some fees and restrictions may apply. Talk to your local lender today.
- Set up Direct Deposit. You will have access to your paycheck immediately.
- Keep a “cushion” in your account.
What to do if you have an Overdraft:
If you have a concern about your account, contact your local branch.
For more information on overdraft charges please watch this video on Tips for Avoiding Overdraft Charges