Secure Banking

Your online security is important to us!
Westoba offers the following ways to maximize your online security.

Direct Alerts

Our direct alerts will let you know when important changes are made to your online banking information. These alerts add another level of security to your account. You need to monitor these and report any potential fraudulent activity as soon as it happens. If you receive an alert but did not perform a change in Internet Banking, contact us immediately and we can address your concerns and take the appropriate steps to fix things.

Signing up for Direct Alerts:

1. Login to online banking.
2. Navigate to the Messages and Alerts tab, click on Manage Alerts. Choose Add New Alerts.
3. Choose which Alerts you would like to sign up for under Security Alerts and Balance and Security Alerts.
4. From here, add an email contact, phone contact (or both!) and click Submit.

Encryption
All online transactions with online banking are encrypted. The information travelling between your computer or phone and a server is translated into unreadable messages.  Scrambling data into an unreadable format makes it difficult for unauthorized individuals to obtain. Once the destination is reached, the messages are decrypted back into useable material.

128-Bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Encryption
To access our services, your browser must also support 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. All browsers that online banking supports must meet this requirement. If yours doesn’t, please download the appropriate encryption support from your browser’s supplier. Keeping your browser up-to-date, does a better job keeping your data safe.

2-Step Verification
2-Step Verification is a type of multi-factor authentication that protects your information by requiring a second “factor” to confirm your identity when signing into your accounts in addition to your MemberCard Number and Personal Access Code.

When enrolling for 2-Step Verification, you will be asked to choose a primary email or mobile phone number to send a one-time verification code. This verification code will ensure that you, and only you, have access to your account.

Protect yourself with a secure password!

Creating a strong and secure password for your online banking can help protect you from potential fraud. We’re always evolving our security measures to ensure that your online banking experience is safe and seamless. We’ve now made an improvement to our Personal Access Code (PAC) complexity requirements. We’ve made it stronger!

When you log in to online banking for the first time, or when you’re choosing your new password, please choose a password with the following requirements:

1. at least 1 uppercase letter
2. at least 1 lower case letter
3. at least 1 number
4. at least 1 special character, you can use the following:  @#$%^&*
5. Password length must be between 8 to 30 characters
6. No spaces

Your security is important to us!
We want to help you protect yourself against identify theft.

Identity Theft
Always protect your personal information! Your Social Insurance Number (SIN), address, date of birth and signature can all be used to open passports, credit cards or bank accounts. Guard your mail and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), use secure social media accounts and passwords, and be sure to shred unnecessary documents with sensitive information. Only share personal information with trusted third parties and monitor your account activity. Be careful.

Phishing Scams
This is when something can look real, sound real – but is it? Phishing experts will use hoax emails, fake websites and misleading phone calls to gather your personal information. This can lead to identity theft, or financial loss.

Tips to protect yourself:

• Don’t open email from sources you don’t know.
• Westoba will never ask you for your PIN in an email, and will never ask you to click a link to validate your account.
• If an email has obvious spelling mistakes, urgent requests for money or personal information – it may be a scam.
• Be sure web links are legitimate – if you hover over a link with your mouse, be sure both links match.
• If a phone call feels suspicious, hang up and call back on a trusted phone number.
• Monitor your bank accounts regularly to identify suspicious transactions.

 

If you believe you have been a victim of Identity Theft or Phishing:

• Immediately file a police report and ask for a copy to provide the evidence to the various companies you will need to follow up with.
• Contact your Westoba branch.
• Change any compromised usernames, passwords and PINs.
• Contact Equifax Canada and Trans Union Canada to request identity protection and your credit report.
• Report identity theft and fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

We want you to feel safe when using your MemberCard.

Chip Cards
Our Westoba MemberCards are embedded with microchips. Chip card technology makes transactions even more secure. The chips are designed so they are almost impossible to duplicate. Chip technology plays a major role in reducing the risk of skimming but it has not eliminated it entirely.

ATM Access
Our MemberCards allow Westoba members to access their accounts 24/7. You can deposit or withdraw from any credit union ATM in Canada that carries the AccuLink® symbol. For a cash withdrawal, you can go to any machine in Canada that carries the Interac® Symbol or any machine around the world that carries the Cirrus® symbol.

Interac® Direct Payment
Your MemberCard gives you direct access to your accounts at any retail location displaying Interac® signs. The debit to your account is approved by entering your PIN and is confirmed immediately. As of December 31st, 2015, magnetic strip transactions will no longer be accepted at point-of-sale devices.

Keep your information safe:

1. Change your password. Changing your password or PIN every three to four months will help. Memorize your PIN. DO NOT carry this number with you and do not give this number out to anyone.
2. Check account activity regularly. Stay on top of what’s happening with your accounts. Make it a habit of reviewing your accounts so that you can quickly flag any suspicious activity and put measures in place to protect your money.

Lost or Stolen MemberCards

If your MemberCard is lost or stolen immediately notify your local Westoba branch or call 1-877-WESTOBA.

In a situation where a branch or 1-877-Westoba is not available, you can please call Everlink at this toll free number: 1-888-277-1043.

Know what’s going on and how to respond.

Here are some of the common scams that are taking place these days. Please click here to visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to see other current scams taking place. If you ever feel that you are being targeted for a scam, please talk to us. We have many knowledgeable staff who can help determine if you are being scammed.

CUETS Financial Credit Bureau Telephone Scam
In this scam, someone claiming to be from the CUETS Financial Credit Bureau will call you and ask you to confirm your date of birth and SIN.  CUETS will never call you to confirm your date of birth or SIN.

CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) Scam
The biggest tip we can give anyone is that the CRA will never phone you to discuss tax issues. The CRA will only communicate with you about your taxes by letter mail. If you receive a phone call or a voice message from someone saying they are with the CRA and that you owe tax, you are being targeted for a scam.

Publishers Clearing House Scam
You will receive a letter in the mail along with an accompanying cheque. The letter will say you have won and that the enclosed cheque is to pay for taxes. The instructions will also say to deposit the cheque and wire the funds to a given address or phone a number and instructions will be provided on where to send the funds. One of the dead giveaways is that the cheque won’t be from Publishers Clearing House but from a random company.

Mystery Shopper Scam
The mystery shopper scam occurs when you receive a letter and a cheque and the letter says you’ve been chosen to work as a mystery shopper. The letter will detail how you should use the money to carry out your job as a mystery shopper. The letter will always ask you to deposit the cheque and notify the sender immediately before or after the cheque is deposited into your account. If you’ve been approached for this type of work please research the company and ensure you are not being targeted for this scam.

Selling Items Online
In today’s world people buy and sell goods online all of the time. If you sell goods online please read this. A scam is now out there where the buyer will send you a cheque for more than what you agreed to sell the goods for. You will then receive a follow-up communication saying the buyer inadvertently made the cheque out for the wrong amount and could you please return the excess funds, most often by wiring the funds.