Update Your Passwords

Zappos.com has been notifying its 24MM accountholders of a data breach. This also affects its affiliate website 6pm.com and the following information may have been stolen:

Username
Customer Name
Email
Billing Address
Shipping Address
Phone Numbers
Last 4 digits of Credit Card Number
Cryptographically Scrambled Passwords

The database that contains critical credit card and payment data was not affected or breached, but this has an impact upon users of that site because they can EASILY be phished using the last 4-digits of the credit card information and the knowledge that they were a Zappos customer. Zappos is also recommending that users change their passwords in other sites that share the same login credentials.

Read more here:

http://www.bankinfosecurity.com/articles.php?art_id=4406&rf=2012-01-17-eb&elq=108a9fed1e574bf7983e83f90d12ea7b&elqCampaignId=

http://money.msn.com/saving-money-tips/post.aspx?post=a75ec255-077b-4d85-829a-086c59d82296

By: Jason Wieland, IT Manager

Balancing Your Checkbook

Balancing your checkbook is important for many reasons.  Making sure all debits & credits clear your account for the correct amount could save you money.   In addition, if you don’t balance your checkbook, you could end up becoming overdrawn, which could cause you to incur fees.   Another reason to balance your checkbook is to watch for fraud.  It is important to look through every transaction in your account and to contact the bank immediately if you notice anything suspicious.

The key to balancing your checkbook is recording all of your debits.  Some examples include automatic debits, checks, transfers, fees, debit card purchases, and ATM withdrawals.  Here is a step-by-step guide on how to balance your checkbook:

1.)    Go through your statement and check off each item in your register.  Make sure the amount on your statement matches the amount written in your register.

2.)    Look through your statement for any items that are not listed in your register.  If you find any, record and subtract or add them from your register total.

3.)    To make sure your register balances with your monthly statement, look at the ending balance on your statement and compare it to the ending balance in your register.  Here is a simple formula to see if you balance:

Ending statement balance

+     (plus) All deposits listed in your register that are not listed on your statement

-      (minus) All withdrawals listed in your register that are not listed on your statement

=     Total (this should match your ending register balance)

4.)    If your register & statement balances do not match, find the difference between the totals.  Look through the statement & register for any item that matches your difference.

If you receive a printed statement from us, the back includes instructions and an easy to use chart to assist you in your reconcilement.  If you have any questions when balancing your checkbook, please call or stop in to the bank and someone can assist you.

By: Lisa Reinarts, Assistant Operations Manager