How to Boost Online Banking Security

Many Carter Bank customers prefer to take care of their routine banking needs through online banking or mobile banking. From checking your account balance to depositing checks, online banking provides convenient, round-the-clock access to everyday banking needs. 

With access to services like online bill pay and other instant money transfer options, traditional banking methods have fallen by the wayside. In fact, according to one survey, more than half of U.S. bank customers prefer to bank via a mobile app or online banking website.

As more consumers turn to online banking, it’s important to understand online banking security and how to keep yourself—and your money—safe. We take this topic very seriously here at Carter Bank and are committed to protecting all our customers in Virginia and North Carolina. These online banking security best practices will help keep your banking information as safe as possible.
 

Be Password Savvy 

We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to create a strong password. This may seem like an inconvenience, especially with so many passwords to remember. Fortunately, encryption services like 1Password and LastPass will help you create strong passwords and keep them secure. Remember to always log out when your banking session is finished to ensure no one can accidentally gain access if your computer or phone is misplaced. 
 

Know Your Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi has become increasingly available. From your local coffeehouse to the airport, you can now connect to the internet virtually anywhere. However, you should never fully trust public Wi-Fi with sensitive information like banking. Your private, secured home Wi-Fi is usually the safest option, but if you need to access your Carter Bank account remotely, try using a Virtual Private Network for a secure connection.  
 

Never Click on Unknown Links

Another rule of thumb is to use only branded Carter Bank points of entry to access your online banking account. This may seem self-explanatory, but sometimes fraudulent attempts can make a page look official to access your information. Known as phishing, this tactic is commonly used in email and text scams. 

If you have doubts about the authenticity of an entry point or login portal, the safest bet is to type http://www.carterbank.com into your web browser or navigate directly to the Carter Bank mobile app. Available for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets, our mobile app encrypts sensitive financial information to keep your accounts secure.
 

Confirm HTTPS for Security

Another online banking security tip is to check the web address in your browser to be sure it starts with “HTTPS.” The “S” at the end signifies an SSL certificate, which means the site is following base-level encryption technology. You can also look for a lock icon in the URL bar to indicate your information is secure. All pages on the Carter Bank website start with HTTPS. 
 

Create Banking Notifications

Use online banking and mobile banking to their fullest potential. Through Carter Bank’s online banking solutions, you can create alerts to help monitor your account and get notified of any unusual activity. Be sure to also enable Touch ID or fingerprint login on your mobile banking app and set up multifactor authentication for added security.

Even when taking all precautions and being as diligent as possible, online banking fraud is still a risk. Contact Carter Bank immediately if you suspect fraud or have any questions about online banking security measures or visit one of our branches in Virginia and North Carolina.