The number of Americans who have experienced identity theft has surpassed 27 million, with the incidence rate increasing every year. Substantial measures are in place at The Peoples Bank to protect your identity and your accounts against theft and fraud. For example, stringent bank privacy policies protect your personal and financial information. Password protection for online transactions help assure online security. When using our online services, you develop a secret password that only you know. Encryption of online transactions with The Peoples Bank converts your information into secure code, protecting you against hackers.

Maximum security is possible only with your help. Here's what you can do to stop these crimes before they happen:

• Do not give out financial information such as checking and credit card numbers, or your Social Security number, unless you know the person or organization.
• Report to us lost or stolen checks immediately, we will block payment on them.
• Notify us of suspicious phone inquiries such as those asking for account information to "verify a statement" or "award a prize."
• Closely guard your ATM Personal Identification Number and ATM receipts.
• Shred any financial solicitations and bank statements before disposing of them.
• Put outgoing mail into a secure, official Postal Service collection box.
• If regular bills fail to reach you, call the company to find out why.
• If your bills include questionable items, don't ignore them. Instead, investigate immediately to head off any possible fraud.
• Have only your initials and last name put on your next check order. If someone swipes your checkbook, they won't know if you sign your checks with your initials or first name, but the bank will.
• Don't sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, write, "photo ID required."
• Put only the last four digits of your credit card number in the "For" line when writing checks to pay your credit card accounts.
• Copy the contents of your wallet and keep the copy in a safe place.
• Periodically contact the major credit reporting companies to review your file and make certain the information is correct. The credit reporting companies are listed below.

If you have any questions or concerns about protecting your financial identity, please come in and visit with your personal banker or ask for Rhonda.

To report a lost or stolen credit card, please call 620-672-5611. If you are unable to contact a representative, please call 1-800-658-6644.

Credit Reporting Bureaus to place a fraud alert and to order a credit report:

• Equifax (www.equifax.com)
  Place a fraud alert: 1-888-766-0008
  Order a credit report: 1-800-685-1111
• Experian (www.experian.com)
  Place a fraud alert: 1-888-397-3742
  Order a credit report: 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion (www.transunion.com)
  Place a fraud alert: 1-800-680-7289
  Order a credit report: 1-800-888-4213

For more information on Identity Theft, click here.