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Consumer Alert: Massive Equifax Breach

Consumer Alert: Massive Equifax Breach

A massive cyber security incident at Equifax - one of the largest credit reporting agencies in the United States - may have exposed private information belonging to 143 million people - nearly half of the U.S. population.

What You Should Know: It may be in your best interest to assume that you have been included in this breach and take all of the necessary steps to help protect yourself. 

Click HERE to learn more about the breach.

Click HERE for more information and tips from the Plain Dealer's "Money Matters".

What You Should Do:

  1. Freeze Your Credit: You may want to place a freeze on your credit with all three Credit Reporting Agencies. Ohio residents will pay $5.00 per agency for this request, but it will help prevent criminals from applying for new credit in your name or stealing your identity. Click HERE for the phone numbers (automated systems) or links to place a freeze.

  2. Get a Copy of Your Credit Report: Federal law allows you one FREE Credit Report - from each of the three Credit Reporting Agencies - every 12 months. You can stagger your three FREE reports every four months, to ensure that the information on your report is correct and to look for signs of Identity Theft. Click HERE to request your FREE Credit Report.

  3. Verify Requests for Personal Information: Regardless of how convincing a call may sound (or email may appear) understand that banks and government agencies would never request your personal or financial information over the phone or by email. Verify any requests for personal or financial information by contacting the institution directly.

  4. Monitor ALL Bank and Credit Card Accounts Regularly: Enroll for online account access for all of your financial accounts, so that you can view them anytime 24/7.

    1. Enroll for Best Reward Online by clicking HERE and then enroll for email or text "Account Alerts" (for each account that you have) so that you are notified immediately of account activity; including purchases and withdrawals. You can then download our FREE Mobile Banking App. Click HERE to learn more about it and download today.

    2. Enroll for Best Reward VISA Credit Card Account Alerts by clicking HERE.

  5. Monitor Government Benefits: Listen closely when applying for a government benefit or loan for signs that someone else might be using your Social Security Number. Get your annual Social Security Benefits Statement online by clicking HERE and look for anything unusual.