Privacy & Security
Choosing an ATM
Where possible, use ATMs with which you are most familiar. Alternatively, choose well-lit, well-placed ATMs where you feel comfortable.
• Scan the whole ATM area before you approach it. Avoid using the ATM altogether if suspicious-looking individuals are around or it looks too isolated or unsafe.
• Avoid opening your purse, bag or wallet while in the ATM line. Have your card ready in your hand before you approach.
• Notice if anything looks unusual or suspicious about the ATM indicating alteration. If the ATM appears to have any attachments to the card slot or key pad, do not use it. Check for unusual instructions on the display screen and for suspicious blank screens. If you suspect that the ATM has been interfered with, proceed to another ATM and inform the bank.
• Avoid ATMs with messages or signs fixed to them indicating that the screen directions have been changed, especially if the message is posed over the card reader. Banks and other ATM owners will not put up messages directing you to specific ATMs, nor would they direct you to use an ATM which has been altered.
Using an ATM
• Be especially cautious when strangers offer to help you at an ATM, even if your card is stuck or you are experiencing difficulty with the transaction. Do not allow anyone to distract you while you are at the ATM.
• Check that other individuals in the line keep an acceptable distance from you. Be on the look-out for individuals who might watch you enter your PIN. Stand close to the ATM and shield the keypad with your hand when keying in your PIN (you may wish to use the knuckle of your middle finger to key in the PIN).
• Follow the instructions on the display screen (do not key in your PIN until the ATM requests you to do so).
• If you feel the ATM is not working normally, press the "Cancel" key and withdraw your card. Proceed to another ATM and report the matter to your financial institution.
• Never force your card into the card slot.
• If your card gets jammed, retained, or lost, or if you are interfered with at an ATM, report this immediately to the bank and/or police using the help line provided.
• Keep your printed transaction record to compare your ATM receipts to your monthly statement.
• Do not be in a hurry during the transaction, and carefully secure your card and cash in your wallet, handbag, or pocket before leaving the ATM.
Managing Your ATM Use
• Memorize your PIN (if you must write it down, do so in a disguised manner and never carry it with your card).
• Never disclose your PIN to anyone, whether to a family member, bank staff, or police.
• Do not use obvious and guessable numbers for your PIN, like your date of birth or the last four digits of your phone number.
• Change your PIN periodically, and if you think it may be compromised, change it immediately.
• Set your daily ATM withdrawal limit at your branch at levels you consider reasonable.
• Regularly check your account balance and bank statements and report any discrepancies to your bank immediately.
ATM Security Tip
• An ATM scam involves thieves putting a thin, clear, rigid plastic sleeve into the ATM card slot. When you insert your card, the machine can't read the strip, so it keeps asking you to re-enter your PIN number.
• Meanwhile, someone behind you watches as you tap in your number. Eventually you give up, thinking the machine has swallowed your card, and you walk away. The thief removes the plastic sleeve, complete with card information and empties your account.
• To avoid this, run your finger along the card slot before you put your card in. Feel for a couple of tiny prongs thieves need to get the sleeve out of the slot.
Card and PIN Safety
• Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
• If you lose your card, you can temporarily deactivate it by logging into your mobile banking app and selecting the “Card Controls” tab.
• Sign your card on the signature panel as soon as you receive it.
• Protect your cards like cash—never let them out of your sight.
• Don't leave your credit cards in your car's glove compartment. An alarmingly high proportion of all credit card thefts are from car glove compartments.
• Never write down your PIN—memorize it.
• Never disclose your PIN to anyone. No one from a financial institution, the police, or a merchant should ask for your PIN. You are the only person who needs to know it. When selecting a PIN, always avoid the obvious—your name, telephone number, date of birth, or any simple combination thereof.
• Ensure you get your card back after every purchase.
• Always check sales vouchers for the correct purchase amount before you sign them, and keep copies of your vouchers and ATM receipts.
• Always check your billing statement and verify the amounts of your purchases.
• Make a comprehensive list of all your cards and their numbers and store it in a safe place.
• Don't volunteer any personal information when you use your credit card other than by displaying ID as requested by a merchant.
• Don't lend your card to anybody. You are responsible for its use. Some credit card misuse can be traced directly to family and friends.
• To ensure the proper use of your debit card while traveling in foreign countries, please contact a Peoples Bank representative for assistance.
Email Security
Peoples Bank does not request personal information from our clients via email. Contact our Customer Care team by phone or email if you are suspicious about email requests regarding your financial account information. Below are some helpful suggestions to protect you from phishing and fraudulent emails:
• Automatically be suspicious of unsolicited emails, especially those with attachments or links. Don't trust the links or open the attachments.
• Hover your mouse cursor over links in email messages to verify a link's actual destination, even if the link comes from a trusted source.
• Type in website addresses rather than using links from unsolicited emails.
• If an email from a friend or colleague seems suspicious, call them and ask if the email is legitimate.
• Be suspicious of phone numbers in emails. Use the phone number on your card or statement or in a trusted directory instead.
• Scammers are always looking for opportunities to steal your account information by crafting emails that appear to be from Peoples Bank or your credit card providers. Responding to these emails with your account information could lead to financial losses or identity theft.
• Be especially cautious of any email message that requests personal data, such as passwords, PINs, or your social security number or sends you to a website that asks for such information. These messages may be attempts to steal your identity, account information, or login credentials.
• Never send payment information via email. Unlike secure websites that protect your private data, email or any other information exchange over the Internet, such as instant messaging, is not fully protected from being read by outside parties.
• Fraudulent emails may claim to be from the IRS or other government agencies. These emails try to get you to act by inciting fear or enticing you with false claims that you have committed tax fraud or with refunds and benefits. Trust your intuition - if it sounds suspicious, it probably is. Directly contact the IRS or government agency if you are unsure (do not use the numbers or data in the email, as they may be fraudulent).
• If you have received a fraudulent email that appears to be from Peoples Bank, please notify us of the specifics of the illegal email (including a print screen of the email would be helpful).
Note: Never send personal information via email.
If you are using Bill Pay and a new screen appears out of context asking you to provide sensitive information, do not provide this information. If you doubt the validity of a Bill Pay screen, contact Customer Care at 1.800.374.6123, option 0.
Malware
Malware is malicious software that includes computer viruses, spyware, destructive agents, and ransomware. You can get malware on your computer in many ways, but it most commonly comes from compromised websites or email messages. Some malware will merely track your browsing and searching habits, recording where you go and how often. However, some more dangerous malware can cause you to fall victim to hackers who use it to steal your identity, your account credentials, and other personal information from your computer. Other malware may destroy or disable files on your computer. Below are some recommendations to help avoid getting malware and help you protect your privacy and security.
• Always run Anti-Virus software on your computer or mobile device and update it regularly.
• Never open attachments or run files sent to you via a suspicious email (see email precautions above).
• Use extreme caution when visiting unfamiliar websites, especially if they ask you to enter personal information or login credentials.
• Don’t use the same password on all of your accounts. If hackers steal your password on one of your accounts, they will have access to everything.
• If you think you have malware on your computer, stop using it immediately and disconnect it from the Internet. Seek technical assistance from your product vendor or a local computer service shop.
Identity Theft Protection
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, Social Security Number, credit card number, or other identifying information, without permission to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years – and much of their hard-earned money - cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.
If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do now:
1. Contact the fraud departments of any of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge. The companies' toll-free numbers are: Equifax, 1.800.525.6285; Experian, 1.888.397.3742; and TransUnion, 1.800.680.7289.
2. Close the accounts you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
3. File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
4. File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you. (FTC Hotline 1.877.438.4338)
For more detailed information on recovering after ID Theft, visit the FTC website.
Frauds and Scams
Peoples Bank will never call, email, or text message you to ask for your personal information or online banking credentials. If you suspect someone is trying to gain access to your account, contact us at 1.800.374.6123.
Scams take many forms, but common indicators are: unexpected contact, great urgency to take an action, and situations that seem too good or bad to be true. Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is.
Whether it’s winning the lottery despite never entering it or the IRS contacting you about taxes that need paid immediately, scams can trick you into giving away personal details or doing something you typically wouldn’t do. Scammers will create a sense of urgency and danger where none exists.
Read over this list of red flags below, and if you answered yes to one or more red flags, exercise extreme caution!
• Was the contact with this person or business unexpected?
• Did they contact you about a product or service you don't use anymore or have never used?
• Are they asking for personal details, such as account numbers, date of birth, Social Security Number, or other private information?
• Are they requesting immediate payment?
• Are they requesting payment via unusual methods, such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, or online payments, like Paypal, Zelle, Cash App, or Facebook Pay?
• Does the amount of payment seem too high?
• Do you not know very much about the business or website?
• Does the deal seem too good, such as free or inexpensive products only cost shipping?
Common tactics of scammers include, but are not limited to:
• Phone calls purporting to be a representative of a government agency, tech support department, bank, doctor, or other trusted business. A legitimate representative will not ask you for personal information. If they want immediate payment, ask them to send you a bill.
• Phone calls claiming you won a prize, but you need to pay taxes on or shipping.
• Phone calls impersonating a relative in legal or medical trouble during an international trip.
• Computer pop up ads with a warning and a phone number to call.
• Social media messages (including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others) from scammers pretending to be friends or relatives.
• Social media ads (including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others) that lead to fake sites or offering amazingly cheap deals, only to get your financial information.
• Scammers on dating apps or sites impersonating potential romantic interests and asking you to accept money on their behalf or to send them money.
Remember: Peoples Bank will never call, email or text message you to ask for your personal info or online banking credentials. If you suspect someone is trying to gain access to your account, contact us at 1.800.374.6123.
If the situation feels wrong to you, it probably is!
Mail and Phone Safety
Mail and telephone solicitation bring many tempting offers, but not all are legitimate. What can you do to protect yourself? Find out more here.
As a reminder: Peoples Bank will never call, text or email asking for your account information or debit card number. Do not share your online banking credentials, passwords, or pin numbers. Be very cautious with unsolicited emails, phone calls, and texts. If you suspect someone is trying to gain access to your account, contact us at 1.800.374.6123.
Privacy Statement
Dear Valued Client,
Peoples Bank is required by law to provide its customers with a notice that accurately describes our Privacy Policy and practices. Beyond the requirements of the law, we value your relationship and your privacy, and we are committed to protecting your personal information and honoring your privacy preferences.
We promise to protect your privacy.
Peoples Bank does not share nonpublic information about you with third-party marketers outside of the Peoples family of companies without your consent, except as explained in the enclosed notice. We are permitted to disclose nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated companies with which we have entered into joint marketing agreements (examples include mutual fund companies, broker dealers, and insurance companies). We choose such non-affiliates carefully and require them to not use your private information other than to service your account or make you aware of special offers that may be of interest to you.
We may share customer information within the Peoples family of companies in an effort to better serve your financial needs. If you prefer, you can opt out of this sharing of information as outlined in our notice.
We promise to honor your privacy preferences.
In terms of sharing information within our family of companies, we will honor your privacy preference. If in the past you have already opted out of sharing information within the Peoples family of companies, there is no need to do anything further. If you have not, and do not want your information shared within the Peoples family of companies, please inform us as outlined in our notice.
We promise to secure your information.
Security of information is a top priority for the Peoples family of companies. We comply with federal standards to protect your information through physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards.
We want to assure you that the Peoples family of companies protects your privacy. If you have any questions about our Privacy Notice or practice, or how we protect your information, please call us at 1-800-374-6123 or contact any Peoples associate. Our company\'s core values are based on conducting business with integrity, and we are committed to maintaining your trust and confidence. Thank you for the opportunity to serve your financial needs.
Sincerely,
Mark Augenstein
Senior Vice President, Operations