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We have received reports of customers receiving phishing text messages from someone posing as “Equity Alert.”  If you receive a text, simply ignore it and block the number. Of course, you can always call your local bank or our Customer Care Center at 888-733-5041. Find helpful information at equitybank.com/fraud-prevention/

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Bank Account Security

Rest assured. Stay vigilant.

The best in online banking and debit card security and safety, for your peace of mind and protection. We know that security threats on or off the internet are lurking around every corner, which is why we help look out for our customers.

With Equity Bank, you can trust that sophisticated technology, protocols and procedures will help keep your money safe. Our team of information technology pros and our bankers are committed to delivering a safe and secure banking experience for you, and you can rest assured that we have expertise and resources to assist you should you have questions or concerns. Watch this space for updates and tools to help you ward off identity theft, debit card fraud, and online outages.

Online Banking Update – October 30, 2023

Equity Bank online banking transaction history, including online bill pay and funds transfers, may not be appearing within online banking. We are working diligently to resolve this issue. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Customer Care directly at (888) 733-5041.

Reminder: Car Rentals and Debit Cards – Active 2023

As a reminder, for enhanced security for our customers, we do not permit debit card use for car rental transactions.

When leasing a car from a rental agency, we encourage our customers to utilize a credit card for an added layer of security and warding off fraud attempts. When using a debit card, the agency will usually complete a pre-authorization above the agreed-upon rental amount as a security deposit. This holds up the funds available in the customers checking account until the car is returned. By utilizing a credit card for the rental and in the event of inaccurate or fraudulent charges, no immediate funds will be held while the dispute is investigated. For questions, please contact our Customer Care team directly at (888) 733-5041.

Online Banking Security Update – January 4, 2021

On January 14, 2021, we will be launching a new online banking enhancement to detect fraudulent activities based on your online banking activity. This new security measure will prompt users to enter a SAC (secure access code) sent via SMS, email or phone call if we detect unusual activity on your online banking account.

This update will enhance security for online customer experience. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Customer Care directly at (888) 733-5041.

Fraudulent Copycat Website: Equity Bank – November 20, 2020

We’ve been made aware that there is a fraudulent website using the Equity Bank name and logo asking people to send money via the quick funds transfer page (see screenshot below). The only website that Equity Bank owns and manages is Equitybank.com.

Please stay vigilant and do not disclose personal information over the phone to an unverified source. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Customer Care directly at (888) 733-5041.

Fraudulent Website – https://www.equity.swiftonclick.com/bnk/

Credential Stuffing Attacks: What they are and how to avoid them – October 2, 2020

There has been a sharp increase in credential stuffing attacks across the banking industry. Credential stuffing is an attempt by fraudsters to use illegally acquired lists of usernames and/or emails to try to log into a service like online banking. Fraudsters run through millions of username and password combinations, hoping to get just a few “hits.”

As a security feature of our online banking, we will send out a notification if there has been an invalid login attempt. These are intended to notify you of issues like these and keep you aware of any unauthorized logins. If you receive a notification like this and you are concerned your online banking credentials have been compromised, we recommend the following actions:

Update your Login ID to something that is not easily guessed, or is somewhat complex. You can make this change by logging in and then going to Settings>Security Preferences>Change Login ID.

Update your password to a complex password, preferably containing a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. You can make this change by logging in and then going to Settings>Security Preferences>Change Password.

Making sure your online banking information such as email address and phone numbers are current and up-to-date. You can check this by logging in and going to Settings>Security Preferences>Secure Delivery

Reviewing which security alerts you have turned on for online banking. Some of these security alerts are turned on by default, but there are others you can select to receive by going to Settings>Alerts, and expanding the Alerts section.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Customer Care directly at (888) 733-5041.

Fraudulent Phone Calls – September 10, 2020

We’ve been made aware, by a number of reports, of customers receiving spoofed phone calls claiming to be from their local Police and Utilities Departments. The calls communicate that there has been fraud on their account or that their utilities will be shut off if not paid over the phone by debit or credit card.

These fraudsters may be using Police Departments and City Agencies to intimidate call recipients into giving out sensitive information. If you receive a call from an unknown number that does not identify himself or herself, and asks for extremely private details, please be vigilant. If you are suspicious of the call, you can always politely hang up, and call our Customer Care team to help.

Car Rental Debit Card Block – August 27, 2020

Due to recent security concerns for our customers, we have put a temporary block on all debit card transactions for car rental services.

We encourage our customers to utilize a credit card when leasing a car from a rental agency for an added layer of security and warding off fraud attempts. When utilizing a debit card, the agency will usually complete a pre-authorization above the agreed upon rental amount as a security deposit. This holds up the funds available in the customers checking account until the car is returned. By utilizing a credit card for the rental and in the event of inaccurate or fraudulent charges, no immediate funds will be held while the dispute is investigated.

Fraudulent Phone Calls – August 20, 2020

Recently, there has been an uptick across the nation in phishing and fraud attempts. We have been made aware, by number of reports, of customers receiving phone calls from their bank’s Fraud Department. They communicate that there have been questionable transactions on the customers debit card and read off the last 4-digits of the card number to make the call seem more believable.

For example, in one incident, the fraudster told the customer that there were fraudulent charges on their debit card and would be canceling the card and reissuing a new one by mail. In the meantime, they were going to send the customer a text to de-activate Apple Pay on the card. When the text came through, it said “Activate Apple Pay” with a link. The customer did not activate the link and hung up.

Equity Bank does not de-activate or activate 3rd party software, including but not limited to: Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, Venmo and more. If you receive a phone call and are in any doubt, please hang up and call Customer Care directly at (888) 733-5041.

Online Banking Fraud Attempts – April 30, 2020

Online banking has seen a sharp increase in “credential stuffing” attacks. Credential stuffing is an attempt by fraudsters to use illegally acquired lists of usernames and/or emails to try to log into a service like online banking. The goal is for them to run through millions of username/password combinations, hoping to get a few “hits.” The COVID-19 pandemic paired with Federal stimulus payments appear to have created a sharp spike in these attempts.

If you see a notification from Equity Bank’s online banking about an invalid login attempt, this is part of the security features of our online banking and intended to notify you of an issue like this. Even if the username/password combination has been guessed correctly, the bank issues a Secure Access Code (SAC) for non-registered browsers or devices which will deliver the email, phone or SMS that is on file with the bank in order to insure that a fraudulent login can not be completed. We are also monitoring for this type of activity.

Here are a few things you can do if you are concerned your online banking credentials have been compromised.

  1. Update your login ID to something that is not easily guessed by clicking on Settings>Security Preferences>Change Login ID.
  2. Update your password to a complex one, preferably containing a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. The more complex the password, the more difficult for fraudsters to guess. Change your password by going to Settings>Security Preferences>Change Password.
  3. Review your security alerts. Some security alerts have been turned on by default, but there are additional security alerts that you can select to receive. Update your alerts by clicking on Settings>Alerts and then expanding the Security Alerts section.

Please contact us if you suspect any unwarranted activity or suspicious transactions on your account. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please call our Customer Care team.

Fraud Attempts – Banking Industry: December 18, 2019

Debit card scams can be prevalent during the holiday season, and many banks are reporting fraud attempts at this time. We have received reports of suspicious persons calling our debit card customers to verify debit card account activity, and asking for sensitive information like PIN numbers and full debit card numbers. We will continue to investigate reports and verify caller information as well as transaction data. Important: Equity Bank will never request sensitive personal information via telephone call – including PINs or debit card numbers. If you receive a call that attempts to solicit your Personal Identification Number, or other sensitive personal information, please do the following:

  • Exit the call
  • Hang up
  • Place a call to our dedicated customer care team at: (888) 733-5041.

We promise: we do not mind if you call us back. In fact, if you are suspicious of any call purportedly from Equity Bank, please hang up and call us back! It’s important to stay watchful, and protect your debit card and personal identification number. Please note that Equity Bank reviews and monitors all debit card use for suspicious activity. The criminals making these calls may provide fake details about potential fraud on your account to trick you into giving additional information. The goal is to gather enough personal information to commit actual fraud on your account. Continue to use best practices with your debit card and please remember we will NEVER ask you for your password. Please contact us if you suspect any unwarranted activity or suspicious transactions on your account. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please call our Customer Care team.

Online Banking Update: November 22, 2019

During a recent security check, we discovered a fraudulent attempt on a number of Equity Bank debit cards. These initial transactions were declined. To halt further suspicious activity, we’ve inactivated any compromised debit cards. If your card was compromised, we have done our best to contact you by email or phone.

Please contact us if you suspect any unwarranted activity or suspicious transactions on your account. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please call our Customer Care team.

Online Banking Update: October 22, 2019

We remain on the lookout for scammers and fraudsters attempting to target Equity Bank customers. We’ve received recent reports of a scam attempt to contact Equity Bank customers via telephone. The callers purport to be “an officer of Equity Bank” and ask the call recipient to confirm suspicious transactions within online banking. The caller asks recipients to verify details such as: login ID, password, and secure access code.

What you need to know. An Equity Bank caller will always:

  • Identify himself/herself by name

An Equity Bank caller will never:

  • Ask for your password
  • Ask for a security code

If you receive a call from an unknown number that does not identify himself or herself, and asks for extremely private details, please be vigilant. If you are suspicious of the call, you can always politely hang up, and call our Customer Care team to confirm the call was legitimate.

Extra Debit Card Security: Shazam Bolt$

You use your debit card nonstop. Every day. And your security key. When you bank with us, we provide complementary security through Shazam Bolt$ account protection, an app that warns you of fraudulent or unauthorized debit card use.

If something looks questionable on your account, a Shazam representative will reach out via phone or email, and confirm or flag suspicious activity. Should your card be compromised, we’ll immediately block further use and ship you the new card.

Shazam representatives are available 24/7. If your card declines, or you need to reach a representative, you can contact Shazam directly at (888) 733-5041.