Lost or Stolen Debit Card | Online Security | Mobile Security | ID Theft Prevention
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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Hot Line: 877 IDTHEFT or 877.483.4338
Social Security Fraud Hot Line: 800.269.0271
U.S. Postal Inspectors: 800.372.8347
Identity Theft Resource Center: 858.963.7935
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: 619.298.3396