Security and Fraud Prevention

Current Scam Alerts

Protect your bank account from scammers
Bank impostor scam alert
Stop phishing scams
Computer and mobile device access scams

Beware of anyone requesting access to your phone, tablet or computer.

Criminals can use software to take over your computer remotely, see your passwords and gain access to your bank accounts and credit card information. But you can protect yourself and your devices from computer takeover scams, also known as remote access scams.

View Computer Takeover Scam Details

Scammers are pretending to be bank's fraud department.

Someone may call, text or email claiming to be from Banner Bank letting you know there is fraud on your account. They will tell you that you must provide them with access to your account or transfer money to stop the fraud. Beware—it’s a scam.

Banner Bank will never demand access to your account or reach out to ask you to transfer money for any reason. If you have any questions, call us at 800-272-9933 or your local branch.

Protect yourself from bank impostors

When in doubt, contact Banner Bank directly.

Banner Bank will never reach out to you unexpectedly to verify your account number, debit card number, PIN or online banking credentials.

If you receive an unexpected call claiming to be Banner Bank, hang up and call us at 800-272-9933.

If you receive an unsolicited text or email claiming to be Banner Bank, don’t respond. Don’t click links, don’t answer yes or no, and don’t open attachments. Give us a call.

Can you spot a phishing scam?

Beware of unsolicited request for access.

If you receive an unsolicited request to remotely access your computer or mobile device, it’s probably a scam. The more aggressive the request, the more alert you should be.

Scammers often pose as employees of familiar companies asking you to provide them with access to your device or to download an app that they send to you. These scams come as phone calls, emails, texts or pop-up screens and may claim that your device has a virus or that you’re owed money.

No matter what the claim is, never grant access or download any app based on unsolicited requests even if you do business with the company the individual claims to be with. Always verify requests by calling the company directly using a verified number from a trusted source – NOT the number the requester provides, which could be part of the scam.

Tips to prevent fraud

Check your accounts regularly and often
Sign up for Banner Online Banking and check your accounts regularly
If you see anything suspicious on your accounts call Banner Bank immediately
Sign up for Banner eStatements to prevent theft of paper documents
Sign up for Alerts to help you detect suspicious activity
Sign up for Debit Card Controls to protect use of your Banner Bank debit card
Keep documents such as your social security card or passport in a secure area at home or in a safety deposit box
Review your credit report at least once a year
Shred private documents such as receipts, applications, bank statements, etc
Never provide personal information, access to your computer or transfer money based on unsolicited calls, text or emails

Avoid common scams

Computer security tips

Install and regularly update antivirus software to prevent viruses, spam and junk email from entering your inbox
Install a firewall to help prevent unauthorized access to your computer
Install spyware software to block the installation of spyware on your computer
Keep your computer operating system and Internet browser current to provide additional protection against fraud and theft
Back up all sensitive information from your old computer before you discard and erase the hard drive
Change your wireless network default password as well as the default SSID (name used to identify your network)
Never grant access or download any app based on unsolicited requests

Online and mobile safety tips

Never share your login, password or Secure Access Code
Always log off your online banking session before leaving your computer or device
Close all browser windows or tabs when ending your online banking session
Do not access your banking or other sensitive online information on a public wifi network
Never jailbreak or root your mobile device or use a jailbroken or rooted device to access online banking
Only download apps from official app stores for your device
Enable biometric authentication, such as touch ID or Face ID, on the mobile device you use to access online banking can help prevent unauthorized access to your account

Username and password tips

Choose a username that you can remember but is not easy enough for others to guess
Make your password sufficiently long—at least 14 characters and a mix of upper and lower case, numbers and special characters
Use multifactor when possible for an additional layer of security beyond username and password
Never share your username, password or Secure Access Code
Change your password often—at least every few months—and don't use the same password for other accounts