Business Online Banking Best Practices

Accessing business accounts over the Internet is not just a convenience; it is a necessity in today’s fast-paced business environment. At Ephrata National Bank, we are invested in protecting our customer’s financial information and look forward to partnering with you to assist in safeguarding your online identity. While we are constantly looking for new ways to protect our customers, these are some safeguards that we currently have in place to ensure your data is protected.

• Our modern secure data network infrastructure is independently tested and certified and has multi-layer physical safeguards.
• We utilize industry leading data encryption.
• Commercial customer authentication and completion of paperwork are done in-branch to prevent unauthorized access.
• Separate login information is required for each employee with access to Online Banking. Employees also have the ability to update their login information and passwords at their discretion.
• Multi-factor authentication when logging into Online Banking.
• Secure messaging within Online Banking to protect sensitive customer/financial information. This method is a safer way to communicate with us than using email or the public website contact forms.
• Online Banking alerts to notify customers when:
  • An invalid password is entered
  • Account preferences are changed
  • Account profile is updated
• Customer option to customize alerts by:
  • Account
  • Date
  • Transaction type

As part of the partnership to protect your Ephrata National Bank Online Banking account we suggest you do the following:

• Keep computer programs and operating systems updated with the most recent security patches and utilize anti-virus protection software, firewalls and spyware blockers. By acquiring these basic computer protection tools, you significantly reduce your vulnerability to cyber-attacks and fraud attempts. When in doubt, enlist the help of a trusted computer professional.
• Use strong account management.
  • Login information should not be written down or shared with anyone.
  • Use a strong password. Passwords should contain a minimum of 8 characters and consist of a combination of mixed case letters, numbers and special characters.
  • Change your passwords regularly.
  • Avoid using automatic browser login features that save login and password information.
  • Always use the log off feature to end your session.
  • Check your account activity regularly. This may be the single most effective strategy you can employ to secure your finances. You should log in and view your account activity daily to ensure there are no unauthorized transactions. Report any discrepancies immediately.
  • Make sure users do not have Administrator rights to their machines. This prevents some threats from infecting a machine and can help to contain the spread of others.
  • When visiting your bank’s website or conducting an online transaction, check your browser to verify a secure connection. If the web address starts with “https” and you see the lock symbol in the browser bar you have a secure connection.
  • Never use public computers for Online Banking. Even if you’re careful to make sure no one sees your screen and you remember to log out completely, an expert scam artist can find ways to record your activity. You should also avoid conducting transactions using public Wi-Fi.
• Be aware of fraudulent emails.
  • Never provide account information through an email, popup window or a website requesting them. We will never ask you to provide confidential information in this manner.
  • Avoid clicking links or open attachments that are unusual or unexpected.
  • Avoid using HTML formatting in email when possible.
  • If possible use separate PCs for email and Online Banking.
• USB drives are a convenient tool to share information between machines but they can also be used to spread viruses and are often easily misplaced. Never insert USB drives into your computer if you do not know its origin.

As technology continues to evolve and the risk of fraud increases, our combined commitment to using these business online banking best practices will help secure your organizations financial information.