Security & Fraud Protection | Northwest Bank

At Northwest Bank, your security is our priority. Here, you’ll learn about some of the policies we’ve adopted and services we provide to protect your personal information.  You’ll also find tips for protecting yourself and steps you can take if you think you’re a victim of identity theft.

Here’s what we can do to protect you.

Privacy Policy and Internal Confidentiality

• We limit access to personal information to employees who need it to serve you. Read our privacy policy.

 Debit and Credit Cards

• Log into Northwest Online and Mobile Banking to create customized card controls that set where and how your card is used and card alerts that provide you with real-time transaction notifications to help you identify potentially-fraudulent activities.  

Credit Score

• Instantly view your credit score, set up credit alerts and access personalized tips to help you improve or maintain your credit score.

 Secure Email

• We’ll never contact you by phone or email to solicit personal information, but if you’re working with a legitimate Northwest representative and you need to share sensitive information, we offer a service that keeps you safe. Learn more information.

Here’s what you can do to protect yourself.

Passwords and PINs

• Never use words or numbers that are unique to you or easily obtainable - like your hometown, birth date, child’s name, or school.
• Create different passwords and PINs for different sites.
• Never share your passwords or PINs.
• Change them regularly.
• Use biometric authentication, like fingerprint or iris scan, when you can.

 Online

• Keep your anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware software up to date.
• Be wary of suspicious emails that may appear to be affiliated with legitimate companies or organizations.
• Never click links in suspicious emails—doing so may install malicious software or download a virus to your computer or mobile device.
• Don't send account numbers, credit or debit card numbers, passwords, or other personal information by email.
• Don't conduct online transactions while using free public Wi-Fi.

Using Your Mobile Device

• Regularly update your mobile device operating software.
• Download Northwest’s mobile app instead of logging into Northwest Online Banking through your mobile web browser.
• Do not respond to suspicious texts, instant messages, calls, or voice messages. Unsolicited requests for personal information over the phone are almost always a scam. Only provide personal information if you've initiated the contact.

At Home

• Shred financial account statements, credit card statements, credit card and loan offers, and other sensitive information before throwing them away.
• Write down your credit and debit card numbers, their 1-800 phone numbers, and your driver’s license number and keep the in a secure place in case your wallet is stolen.
• Never write your driver’s license number or Social Security number on your checks.
• Follow the news—the news media often reports on the latest scams.
• If you don’t want to receive credit card offers in the mail, remove your name from the Direct Marketing Association’s unsolicited mail list at  dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html
• If you don’t want to receive calls from telemarketers, register with the National Do Not Call list at donotcall.gov

Use Your Resources

• Sign up for Northwest account alerts.
• Monitor your credit report at annualcreditreport.com
• Regularly review your accounts using Northwest Online and Mobile Banking or your monthly statements.
• To stay updated on the latest scams, visit ftc.gov

Keep your business safe.

A compromised computer or device could be disastrous for your organization if you aren’t prepared. Here are some helpful tips to keep your business safe from hackers and how to file a report if you've been a victim of hacking.

Download PDF to learn helpful tips if your device or online accounts are hacked.

• We also offer a variety of services to protect businesses from fraud and identity theft.  In addition to the services listed above, we offer electronic transfer monitoring and authentication to be sure you authorized transactions to and from your account.

Think you're a victim of identity theft?

Notify your bank and/or credit card company

• Let us know as soon as possible so we can put a hold on your account to prevent further charges against it. Always call the number on the back of your card or on your most recent statement. Never call a number in an email, as it might be part of a phishing scam.
• You can also visit or call any Northwest office during normal business hours or call 1-877-672-5678.

Alert law enforcement

• File a police report as soon as possible after you've been scammed, especially if money was actually stolen from your account. Your bank or credit card company will likely want a copy of the police report, as will the major credit agencies.

Consider a freeze on your credit report

• You may want to contact the three major credit bureaus and ask them to place a freeze on your credit reports. If a freeze seems too extreme, you can always place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus, which requires them to contact you before new credit is opened. 

Consider a fraud alert

• If you don’t want to place a freeze on your credit files, consider a fraud alert. Fraud alerts warn creditors that you may be an identity theft victim and that they should verify that anyone seeking credit in your name is actually you.