Security

Protecting Yourself

Personal Information Protection

  • Keep your sensitive information in a secure place.
  • Be alert when you need to use your Social Security number.
  • Never provide personal information unless you have initiated the contact.
  • Shred any unnecessary documents that include your personal information. 
  • Monitor all of your financial accounts regularly.
  • Check your credit report annually.

Online Banking

Computer

Try not to use public computers to access your online accounts unless it's at a trusted place such as your bank. We recommend taking some necessary steps to greatly protect your personal computer security with online banking.

  • Making sure your computer's operating system is up to date.
  • Install anti-virus program that can detect computer virus and spyware, and keep it updated. Scan your computer regularly for both viruses and spyware.
  • Install a personal firewall on your computer.
  • Making sure your online session is secured, look for a closed lock or a complete key icon at the lower right hand side corner of your Internet browser program.

Email

  • Washington First International Bank will never send you an email asking for your personal information.
  • If you receive a suspicious email using Washington First International Bank's name and asking for personal account information, please forward the email to wf@wfib.com or contact our personal banker.
  • If you receive an email that is suspicious, do not reply to it or click on the link it provides. Even you don't input any information, by clicking on a suspicious link might download and install a possible spyware that tracks your keystrokes and online activities.
  • Open email attachments only if you know the sender. It is best to use your anti-virus program to scan the attachments prior to opening.

Password & PIN

  • Do not share your personal information such as your IDs, passwords, or PINs with anyone.
  • We strongly recommend memorizing your password & PINs or placing them in a safe location.
  • Change your passwords frequently.
  • Make your passwords difficult to guess, and try not to use any of your personal information in your passwords or PINs.

Checking & Savings

  • Keep your personal phone number and Social Security number off your checks.
  • Store new and cancelled checks securely.
  • Report lost or stolen checks immediately.
  • Be aware of the check numbers that you are using.

Credit Card

  • Sign your card immediately as soon as you receive it.
  • Do not carry your credit card PIN with you.
  • Never lend your card.
  • Be sure to keep your receipts for every transaction

ATM

  • Shield the ATM keypad with your body while entering your PIN.
  • Make sure it is safe around the ATM
  • Report lost or stolen cards immediately.
  • Never leave your transaction statement behind.

Identity Theft

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as a Social Security number, without your permission to commit fraud of other crimes.

Examples of identification:

  • A person's name
  • Social Security number
  • Date of birth
  • Driver's license
  • Fingerprints
  • Identification numbers or access devises such as access codes or PIN numbers

The Federal Trade Commission:

Order a credit report once a year to be sure all information is accurate.  To request a credit report, you may contact:

  • Equifax: 1-888-766-0008; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241 , Atlanta , GA 30374

  • Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 2002 , Allen , TX 7501

  • TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department, P.O. Box 6790 , Fullerton , CA 92834

Phishing Scam

It involves Internet fraudsters who send spam or pop-up messages to lure personal information (credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information) from unsuspecting victims. Additional information can be found on Federal Trade Commission website http://www.onguardonline.gov/phishing.html

Types of Online Fraud:

  • Email and Fraudulent Websites

Sometimes someone might send you email that looks like it has come from Washington First International Bank. These counterfeit emails would ask you to go to a website that also looks like Washington First International Bank and provide your personal account information. Some of these counterfeit emails even caution that if you don't do this, your account may be suspended. But the website is also a fake, and this is a fraud attempt. This is the most common type of online fraud, and is called "phishing and spoofing". Criminals send these counterfeit email messages or direct someone to a fraudulent website for one goal, to steal personal and financial information.

If you receive an email that appears to be suspicious, do not reply to it or click on the link it provides. Simply delete it. To report a suspicious email that uses Washington First International Bank's name, you can forward it to wf@wfib.com.

  • Spyware and Viruses

Spyware and viruses are both malicious programs that are loaded onto your computer without your knowledge. Whether the goal of these programs is to capture or destroy information, to ruin the performance of your computer, or to bombard you with advertising, you don't want them.

Viruses spread by infecting computers and then replicating. Spyware disguises itself as a legitimate application and embeds itself into your computer, to monitor your activity and collect information.

Spyware and viruses are both serious threats to the security of your computer.

  • Pop-up Advertisements

Pop-ups are mostly the advertisements that "pop up" in a separate browser window. When you click on some of these pop-ups, it is possible that you are also downloading "spyware" or "ad-ware." Sometimes, criminals create pop-up ads that look like they come from a respected financial institution and ask you to enter personal financial information, but Washington First International Bank and most other financial institutions will never ask you to verify personal financial information in pop-ups.