Internet Banking Customer Awareness & Education Program

Home Bank & Trust Co. is committed to protecting your personal information. Home Bank & Trust Co. will never contact you on an unsolicited basis by phone, email or text messaging to request your security logon credentials such as the combination of your username and password or any other confidential customer information. If you receive a request of this type, do not respond to it. Please call us immediately at (620) 583-5516 to report any activity of this nature. Home Bank & Trust Co. may contact you on an unsolicited basis for the following reasons:

Suspected fraudulent activity on your account.
Inactive/dormant account.
To notify you of a change or disruption in service.
To confirm changes submitted to your online banking profile.

If you receive an unsolicited contact from Home Bank & Trust Co., your identity will be confirmed through a series of security questions. Home Bank & Trust Co. will NEVER ask for your logon security credentials. Our top priority is to safeguard your confidential information and we work diligently to do so.

Internet Banking Security

All information within our Internet Banking uses the SSL protocol for transferring data. It creates a secure environment for the information being transferred between your computer and Home Bank & Trust Co. In addition to the security features setup by Home Bank & Trust Co. , here are some tips to protect your information:

Never share or give out your Access ID, User Name, Passwords, or Security Challenge Questions & Answers.
Do not use personal information as your Access ID, User Name & Password.
Create difficult passwords that include letters & numbers and upper & lowercase letters.
Change your password frequently.
Avoid using public computers to access your Internet Banking.
Do not provide any personal information to web sites that do not use encryption or other secure methods of protection.
Ensure that your computer is equipped with up to date anti-virus software protection.

Commercial Banking Internet Security

In addition to the information provided regarding “Internet Banking Security,” Commercial & Small Business account holders should institute additional measures in order to further protect their online banking, for example:

Perform your own annual internal risk assessment & evaluation on all online accounts.
Establish internal policies regarding employee internet usage.
Ensure all company computers are equipped with up to date anti-virus protection software.

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your Social Security number, account number or credit number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. Protect yourself by:

Reporting lost or stolen checks or credit cards immediately.
NEVER give out any personal information.
Shred all documentation that contains confidential information (i.e. bank and credit card statements, bills and invoices that contain personal information, expired credit cards and pay-stubs).
Check your credit report annually.

Check Your Credit

Any consumer can request one free copy of his or her credit report per year. Reviewing your credit report can help you find out if someone has opened unauthorized financial accounts, or taken out unauthorized loans, in your name. Contact the three major credit bureaus – Equifax (1-800-685-1111), Experian (1-888-397-3742), or Trans Union (1-800-916-8800) – to request a copy.

How Does Regulation E Apply to Your Accounts with Internet Access?

Regulation E protects individual consumers engaging in electronic fund transfers (EFT). Non-consumer (or business) accounts are not protected by Regulation E.

What is an EFT?

The electronic exchange or transfer of money from one account to another, either within a single financial institution or across multiple institutions initiated through electronic-based systems. The term includes, but is not limited to:

Point-of-sale transfers.
Automated Teller Machine transfers (ATM).
Direct deposits or withdrawal of funds.
Transfers initiated by telephone.
Transfers resulting from debit card transactions, whether or not initiated through an electronic terminal.
Transfers initiated through internet banking/bill pay

How Does Regulation E Apply to a Consumer Using Internet Banking and/or Bill Pay?

Regulation E is a consumer protection law for accounts established primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. Non-consumer accounts, such as Corporations, Partnerships, Trusts, etc. are excluded from coverage. Regulation E gives consumers a way to notify their financial institution that an EFT has been made on their account without their permission.

How Regulation E Applies to a Non-Consumer Using Internet Banking and/or Bill Pay

A non-consumer (business) customer using internet banking and/or bill pay is not protected under Regulation E. Because the non-consumer account is not protected by Regulation E special consideration should be made by the Business to ensure adequate internal security controls are in place that commensurate with the risk level that the customer is willing to accept. Precautions a non-consumer should take because they are not protected by Regulation E.

As a non-consumer customer you should perform a periodic assessment to evaluate the security and risk controls you have in place. The risk assessment should be used to determine the risk level associated with any internet activities the non-consumer customer performs and any controls in place to mitigate these risks.

Is Your Account Protected?

Any fraudulent or unauthorized EFTs are protected. For a description on what an EFT is under Regulation E please refer to the section “What is an EFT?”.

What Are the Applicable Protections Provided to Consumers Under the Act for Consumers Who Use Internet Banking and/or Bill Pay?

If you believe an unauthorized EFT has been made on your account, contact us immediately. If you notify us within two (2) business days after you learn of the unauthorized transaction, the most you can lose is $50. Failure to notify the bank within two (2) business days may result in additional losses.

Exclusions from Protection

The term EFT does not include:

Checks – Any transfer of funds originated by check, draft or similar paper instrument or any payment made by check, draft or similar paper instrument at an electronic terminal.

Check Guarantee or Authorization – Any transfer of funds that guarantees payment or authorizes acceptance of a check, draft or similar paper instrument but does not directly result in a debit or credit to a consumer’s account.

Wire or Other Similar Transfers – Any transfer of funds through a wire transfer system that is used primarily for transfers between financial institutions or between businesses.

Securities and Commodities Transfers – Any transfer of funds for the primary purpose of the purchase or sale of a security or commodity, if the security or commodity is:

Regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading.
Purchased or sold through a broker-dealer regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or through a futures commission merchant regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Held in Book-entry form by a Federal Reserve Bank or federal agency.

Automatic Transfers by Account-Holding Institution – Any transfer of funds under an agreement between a consumer and a financial institution which provides that the institution will initiate individual transfers without a specific request from the consumer:

Between a consumer’s accounts within the financial institution.
From a consumer’s account to an account of a member of the consumer’s family held in the same financial institution.
Between a consumer’s account and an account of the financial institution, except that these transfers remain subject to § 205.10(e) regarding compulsory use and sections 915 and 916 of the act regarding civil and criminal liability. (Refer to “Coverage in Detail” section below for a detail explanation of protections provided under Regulation E).

Telephone-Initiated Transfers – Any transfer of funds that:

Is initiated by a telephone communication between a consumer and financial institution making the transfer.
Does not take place under a telephone bill-payment or other written plan in which periodic or recurring transfers are contemplated.

Small Institutions – Any pre-authorized transfer to or from an account if the assets of the account-holding financial institution were $100 million or less on the preceding December 31. If assets of the account-holding institution subsequently exceed $100 million, the institution’s exemption for pre-authorized transfers terminates one year from the end of the calendar year in which the assets exceed $100 million. . (Refer to “Coverage in Detail” section below for a detail explanation of protections provided under Regulation E).

Regulation E – Coverage in Detail

For a complete detail explanation of protections provided and not provided under Regulation E; please visit the FDIC web page on Regulation E Electronic Fund Transfers.

For more information and tips on how to safe-guard your online security, take a look at the following videos and links:

How to Contact Us

Home Bank & Trust Co. may be reached at 620-583-5516. In addition do not hesitate to contact us immediately to report any of the following:

General Internet Banking inquiries.
Lost or stolen Access ID.
User Name or Password.
Receipt of suspicious or fraudulent mail, email or websites related to Home Bank & Trust Co.