Protect yourself when Mobile Banking

Ireland Bank is committed to protecting your banking account and personal information accessed through Ireland Bank’s Mobile Banking. We work hard to keep your information secure and are committed to protecting it. To ensure the security of your account information, a number of security features have been built into mobile banking products.

• Never share your private information (password, PIN, etc.) with anyone, especially over your phone or pad.
• Use account nicknames instead of account numbers.
• Do not include any digits from your account numbers in passwords or nicknames.
• Add your Ireland Bank text short code to your device’s contact list with a distinctive name, so that you will recognize incoming messages are from Ireland Bank.

Protect your mobile device¹

Your mobile device provides convenient access to your email, bank and social media accounts. Unfortunately, it can potentially provide the same convenient access for criminals. The American Bankers Association recommends following these tips to keep your information — and your money — safe.

• Use the passcode lock on your smartphone and other devices. This will make it more difficult for thieves to access your information if your device is lost or stolen.
• Log out completely when you finish a mobile banking session.
• Use caution when downloading apps. Apps can contain malicious software, worms, and viruses. Beware of apps that ask for unnecessary “permissions” and delete unused or rarely used apps.
• Download the updates for your phone and mobile apps.
• Avoid storing sensitive information like passwords or a social security number on your mobile device.
• Tell your financial institution immediately if you change your phone number or lose your mobile device.
• Be aware of shoulder surfers. The most basic form of information theft is observation. Be aware of your surroundings especially when you’re punching in sensitive information.
• Wipe your mobile device before you donate, sell or trade it using specialized software or using the manufacturer’s recommended technique. Some software allows you to wipe your device remotely if it is lost or stolen.
• Beware of mobile phishing. Avoid opening links and attachments in emails and texts, especially from senders you don’t know. And be wary of ads (not from your security provider) claiming that your device is infected.
• Watch out for public Wi-Fi. Public connections aren’t very secure, so don’t perform banking transactions on a public network. If you need to access your account, try disabling the Wi-Fi and switching to your mobile network. Consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) app to secure and encrypt your communications when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network. (See the Federal Trade Commission’s tips for selecting a VPN app.)
• Report any suspected fraud to your local branch immediately.

Text Message Phishing Scams

Beware of a new phishing scams using text messages, also known as SMS messages, to trick you into divulging your account or debit card information.

Never believe a text message with an urgent tone about a concern with your bank or debit card account. People who have gotten these were asked to call a given phone number to verify their account details. When called, the phone number went to a voice message suggesting it was from their bank asking the caller to enter their debit card number, PIN, and in some cases, the expiration date.

If you receive a text message regarding a problem with your debit card account, immediately delete the message. Do not reply to it or call the given phone number as requested in the message. Then contact your local Ireland Bank branch immediately to report the text scam.