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Lost or Stolen Debit Card | Online Security | Mobile Security | ID Theft Prevention

Lost or Stolen Debit Card

Have you lost your debit card or afraid it has been stolen? You can always call our Solutions Center or your local Service Specialist if it happens to be during working hours. However, since cards can disappear anytime of the night or weekend, please call 1-800-500-1044 directly to get your card shut down immediately. If you notice any unauthorized activity on your account, immediately contact Bear State Bank's Solutions Center Toll Free at 1.866.242.3324. The Solutions Center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30am-5:30pm.

Online Security Information

At Bear State Bank, your security and privacy is a top priority. If you notice any unauthorized activity on your account, immediately contact Bear State Bank's Solutions Center Toll Free at 1.866.242.3324. The Solutions Center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30am-5:30pm.

The US Patriot Act requires Bear State Bank to obtain, verify, and record identifying information from each person opening an account. We will ask for your name, address, date of birth, driver's license, Social Security Number or other identifying information. Requiring you to disclose personal information before beginning a transaction is a valuable security tool to verify and protect a customer's identity. It is often necessary to ask for certain personal information when a customer calls, visits a branch office, or logs into our Web site in order to verify identify.

Bear State will generally not contact you and ask for identifying account information. However, we may occasionally send emails or call you regarding specific products or services, or contact you to confirm a transaction. Also, we may from time to time enter into joint marketing agreements with marketing service companies or other financial service providers, and they may conduct email and/or mail campaigns on our behalf. We do not disclose nonpublic personal information unless we have a joint marketing agreement, as allowed by Federal law. We do not allow third parties to solicit our customers by telephone. For details, review Bear State's Privacy Policy.

If you are unsure, call the Solutions Center to verify that you are communicating with Bear State. The Solutions Center can be reached Toll Free at 1.866.242.3324 or by email at solutionscenter@bearstatebank.com. The Solutions Center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30am-5:30pm.

If you suspect fraud or a phishing attempt, please forward the email to solutionscenter@bearstatebank.com.

Unfortunately, personal information shared on the Internet or telephone can be used to commit fraud. Do not disclose account numbers, ATM or debit card numbers, passwords, or other personal information unless you have verified the identity of the caller or are sure of the website.

Be wary of emails offering to send your money for a percentage, or if you receive notice that you are the winner of a lottery you never entered. The FBI publishes a list of common fraud schemes, internet fraud, and frauds targeting seniors.

Here are some additional security tips:

Keep all passwords private. Passwords can only serve their purpose if they remain confidential. Change your password on a regular basis. Do not use anything easily identifiable, such as your birthday, anniversary, or pet's name.
Always use the 'logout' button to discontinue your internet banking session and then close your browser.
Immediately leave any site that appears suspicious, or seems to not perform the function that it claims to provide. Carefully check the spelling of a Web address so as not to be fooled by a fraudulent site that is identical to the legitimate site. Often fraudulent sites can differ from the legitimate site by only one stroke or character.
Do not reply to ANY email requesting personal identifying or account information OR open any unidentifiable email attachments.
When using an online site for banking or other consumer activities, carefully read the site's privacy and security statements.
When sending personal identification or account information using an online Web site, check the lower right hand corner of your browser and/or the address bar for the "closed padlock" symbol indicating an encrypted, secure site.
Balance your account on a regular basis. Online Banking makes it easy.
Review our ID Theft Prevention information.

To make an official complaint regarding criminal activity regarding computers, including fraud, computer intrusions, and crimes against children, you may visit the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Complaints are then forwarded to the appropriate local, state, or federal agency for action.

Mobile Banking Security Best Practices

According to recent studies, security is the number one fear among potential mobile banking customers. The good news is that technology advancements and established risk mitigants truly do make mobile banking secure and safe. In addition, mobile banking is a great tool you can use to detect fraudulent activity because it provides an easy way to check your account on a regular basis for suspicious activity. The security measures currently in place include:

Username and password – used to confirm your identity and ensure the confidentiality of your mobile banking session, plus session will be locked out after three incorrect login attempts.
New device – enhanced layers of security used in the event you log in from a new device wherein identity verified through a one-time security code via a phone call or SMS (text) message or answering a series of questions obtained from public records.
Device profiling – mobile banking not used in last 90 days may require stepped up authentication to enhance security.
Encryption – system uses the industry's strongest 128-bit SSL encryption standards to protect the transmission of data.
Firewalls and routers – used to protect programs from any unauthorized malicious intrusion.
Time-out – function is enabled when mobile device is not being utilized or you forget to log out.
Account data – no confidential customer or account data such as account numbers (that are masked) is ever stored on your mobile device, and sensitive information is not sent via text messages.
Lost or stolen phone or tablet – service can be immediately disabled by either going to the Mobile Banking Center in online banking and disabling or removing your device, contacting our bank, or calling your mobile service provider to stop the service.
Transfer of money – can only transfer funds between [Bank name] accounts and pay existing bill payees within mobile banking (new payees are set up only within online banking bill pay).
Unauthorized transactions – in the rare event of an unauthorized transaction, certain protections are in place for consumers as long as reported to the bank within 60 days of receiving your statement showing unauthorized activity.

The likelihood of fraud is no greater than using your online banking, but keeping in mind that you should use the same best practices that you follow when browsing the Internet or accessing email from your PC. There are many security tips and precautions that you can exercise to practice safe mobile banking:

Password – PIN or password protect your phone or tablet and lock it when not in use; don't reveal password information to anyone or keep it stored on the device; and don't let your device automatically log you in or save any of your login information.
Texting or email – do not text message or email any confidential information about your account to the bank or elsewhere since text messages and email are not transmitted on a secure channel.
Identity protection – never respond to a "phishing" text or email that requests your PIN, account number, or any card, and please remember that Bear State Bank will never request this information in this manner.
Anti-virus software – if available, install mobile ant-virus and anti-spyware software on your device and keep it updated.
Opening files – be cautious of opening unsolicited files, text messages, or applications, especially if they are received from unknown sources.
Application downloads – only download and install a bank application from reliable sources such as Apple iTunes store or Google Android market; and report any banking application that appears to be malicious to Bear State Bank right away.
Connection – only connect to the bank via a secure connection or a non-public Wi-Fi network and remember to log out of mobile banking when you are finished with your session.
Bluetooth – disable Bluetooth, or set the Bluetooth status to hidden, until you want to share something.
Monitor – monitor your accounts on a regular basis to more readily detect unauthorized activity.
Lost or stolen device – immediately disable within the Mobile Banking Center in online banking, contact the bank, or call your mobile service provider to disconnect the service.
Phone or Tablet lock – lock your device to your SIM card and enable a PIN to prevent access to the device in the event that it is lost or stolen.

ID Theft Prevention

Bear State Bank is committed to protecting your personal information. That is why we offer free Fraud Resolution Services with our Thrive Checking Account. We have also compiled the tips on this page to help you prevent the loss of your identity.

Bear State will generally not contact you and ask for identifying account information. If you receive an email, phone call, or letter from Bear State, and you are not sure if it is legitimate, feel free to contact the Solutions Center Toll Free at 1.866.242.3324. The Solutions Center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30am-5:30pm. If you suspect fraud or a phishing attempt, please forward the email to solutionscenter@bearstatebank.com . The mailbox is monitored 24/7 so issues can be dealt with promptly.

For details, review Bear State's Privacy Policy and Security Information.

You may also visit IdentityFraud.com for a variety of resources.

At Home

Store personal information in a safe place. Information such as account numbers, credit card numbers, Social Security Number, Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), birth date, and your mother's maiden name, should be secure. Do not keep your PINs near your checkbook, ATM, debit, or credit cards. Do not give your PIN to anyone.

Shred any papers that may contain personal information, including items such as junk mail, prescreened credit card offers, ATM receipts, canceled checks, expired credit cards, bank statements, receipts, doctor bills, and insurance documents.

Guard your mail against theft. If you are going to be out of town for even a day or two, have someone check your mail and store it for you until you return.

New check orders typically take ten business days for delivery. If you do not receive your checks within that time, contact Bear State to report them as lost or stolen. When you receive new checks, verify that the full order has been delivered to ensure none were stolen during transit.

Pay attention to billing and statement cycles. If you do not receive a monthly statement, ask the institution about it; this may mean that bill has been diverted by an identity thief. Check account statements carefully to ensure all charges, checks, and withdrawals were authorized.

Mail & Phone Calls

Do not provide personal information over the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you initiate the transaction and know who you are dealing with.

Thieves sometimes steal mail directly out of mailboxes: they want your checks, cash, credit card applications, and bank account statements. To keep your outgoing mail secure, deposit it in an official USPS mail collection box. You can also sign up for Online Banking, E-Statements, and Online Bill Payment to receive that information electronically.

If there is something on a bill that looks suspicious, contact the biller immediately. This may be a sign of ID theft.

Reduce the amount of prescreened credit and insurance offers you receive by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT or visit OptOutPreScreen.com.

Visit the Do Not Call Web site to place your phone number on the Do Not Call list to reduce the amount of telemarketing you receive.

Notify companies with which you do business that you do not want your personal information shared for promotional purposes.

Out of the Home - Shopping and Services

Carry only the minimum amount of identifying information and credit cards that you need. Do not carry your Social Security Card in your wallet, and be wary about giving out your Social Security Number.

Avoid putting your address, telephone number, or driver's license number on signed credit slips. Take your receipts with you to shred. "Dumpster diving" is common at large retail areas.

Credit Reports

Check your credit reports once a year. Look for any accounts that you have never owned, misspellings in your personal information, account balances, addresses where you have never lived, or any other incorrect information.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. For detailed information on how to access your free credit report, visit the FTC Web site, or go directly to annualcreditreport.com.

Passwords

It is best to use passwords that contain a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols. Avoid passwords that use the last four digits of your Social Security Number, mother's maiden name, birth and anniversary dates, names of pets, or even your hometown baseball team.

Steps for Victims

The FTC and other groups have created an ID Theft Affidavit to assist you in reporting possible ID theft. Complete instructions are included in the Affidavit. You may also visit the FTC's Identity Theft Site for helpful information.

Contact the Police to file a report.
Call all the three major credit bureaus and have them flag your accounts with a "fraud alert". Find out how long the fraud alert will remain on your report in case you need the time extended. Also, ask for a copy of your credit report so you can identify any unusual activity.
Request that the credit bureaus note that accounts were closed, at your request due to fraud.
Notify your credit card companies and any banks where your accounts may be at risk.
Check with the Postal Service to see if any change of address requests have been filed under your name.
Keep all copies of documents related to the theft.
Keep records of all telephone calls. Note the name and the title of person who assisted you, along with the date and time of the phone call.
Keep copies of all correspondence.