Credit unions offer only savings accounts, not checking accounts.

Understanding the Parts of a Check

• Your information. In the upper left corner of your check, you’ll typically find the name and the address you have on file with your bank.
• Check number.
• The date.
• The recipient’s name.
• The payment amount.
• Memo line.
• Bank name.
• Signature.

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Characteristics of the Best Credit Unions

• Service. Customer service is an important aspect for any company.
• Hours and Locations. Whenever you are searching for a new credit union, note the hours of operation and the locations for each credit union.
• Banking Services and Rates.
• ATM and Online Banking.

You can also check your account balance through an ATM….ATM cum debit card

1. Swipe the ATM cum debit card.
2. Enter the 4 digit ATM pin.
3. Select the “Balance Enquiry Option.”
4. Finish the transaction.

Protecting Your ATM Card Always protect your ATM card and keep it in a safe place, just like you would cash, credit cards or checks. Do not leave your ATM card lying around the house or on your desk at work. No one should have access to the card but you. Immediately notify your bank if it is lost or stolen.

Could one walk up to a drive-through bank ATM? YES! It is functionally the same as a walk-up ATM. Two warnings: a) drive through ATMS are not ergonomically set up for a person standing, and b) car drivers are not expecting to see a person standing at an ATM, which means they will not see you.

9 Tips to Help Protect Yourself at the ATM

1. Keep your personal identification number (PIN) just that – personal.
2. Be aware of your surroundings, particularly at night.
3. Bring someone with you when using an ATM.
4. Have your debit card ready to go as you approach the ATM.
5. Use your body to “shield” the ATM keyboard as you enter your PIN.

Always use your hand to cover the keypad when you are using an ATM machine. Hidden cameras can be placed anywhere to steal your PIN number. Never use an ATM machine if there is someone else standing near you and never write your PIN down. Never give your PIN number to anyone.

It’s called skimming. ATM skimming is like identity theft for debit cards: Thieves use hidden electronics to steal the personal information stored on your card and record your PIN number to access all that hard-earned cash in your account. Always pay attention to objects mounted on the ATM or located close by.

From Lebanese loops to pinhole cameras, here are six signs an ATM has been tampered with by criminals.

1. Pinhole cameras. Scammers have been known to hide tiny pinhole cameras in cash machines to record people’s PINs.
2. Fake fronts.
3. A wider card slot than normal.
4. A loose or blocked card slot.
5. Loitering groups of strangers.

Tips to avoid being skimmed

1. Do a quick scan. Before using any machine, take a look to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with.
2. Be wary of non-bank ATMs.
3. Check the keypad.
4. Block your PIN.
5. Stay in public view.
6. Check your account regularly.
7. Sign up for alerts.
8. Above all, trust your instincts.

Chip cards can be skimmed because of the magnetic strip that still exists on these cards. Skimming is a common scam in which fraudsters attach a tiny device, or “skimmer,” to a card reader. They tend to target places like ATMs and gas stations. Information on a chip card’s embedded microchip is not compromised.

Preventing Credit Card Scanning

1. Buy a card sleeve or RFID wallet that blocks RFID transmissions.
2. Stack your cards together to mitigate some of the scanner’s ability to read information.
3. Leave your cards at home and only use cash in public places.

Skimming. The Internet is not the only way a criminal can steal your credit card number. Skimmers are electronic devices, usually placed on ATMs or the card readers on gas pumps. When you place your card into the reader, it passes through the skimmer, allowing the device to capture your account information.

Card details: Information such as expiry date of your credit or debit card, its number, and your full name are prominently displayed on the card. Your name would be known to most people, but you should not share any other information printed on the card. And this information is the first level of security.

How safe are phone payments? The simpler answer is: phone payments are very safe as long as: The business/receiver uses certain standard security measures. The payer has checked that the company they’re paying is legitimate.

Unless you initiated the phone call, never give out your credit card number: This may seem like common sense, but it can happen all too easily and quickly. Have the merchant confirm your purchase at the end of the call: Before hanging up, have the merchant on the other end confirm the amount of your purchase.

Never give out personal information over the phone unless you initiate the call. Shred all documents and mail with identifying information. Don’t carry any information you don’t need in your wallet (Social Security card, extra credit cards, birth certificate, etc.)

Card details – card number, card holder name, date of birth and address – are stolen, often from online databases or through email scams, then sold and used on the internet, or over the phone. Committing fraudulent applications in someone else’s name for a new credit card, without that person knowing.

It’s generally considered safe to give out your account number and sort code, but you should always use common sense and avoid sharing your bank details with people you don’t know or expect payments from.

If someone has access to your information, such as your date of birth, banking information and even your debit card number, they can perform a number of illegal actions under your name. And you must take appropriate actions to stop the threat right away.

A stolen credit card number isn’t worth much on its own. But you can’t do too much with a credit card number unless you also have the associated name and address of the cardholder. Even with that information, thieves may not get much.

The “last 4” of a credit card number is generally considered safe. It’s typically used either to validate that you are the holder of that card, or that they’re about to apply a credit to the correct card.