Fraud is a sad fact of life and the damage is enormous.

Potential damage to your personal credit and financial history often takes years to repair. Criminals are finding new ways to steal accounts and identities.

Hudson Bay Credit Union has a vested interest in your security and protection.

Protect Your Password

Your login name and password in MemberDirect® grant you access to your personal information and online services. You do not want someone else to easily guess this information.

• Keep your password confidential.
• Protect your password. Memorize it, do not write it down or store it in a PC file. Change it frequently and do not reveal it to anyone.
• Never disclose your password in a voice or email. Do not disclose it over the phone, especially cellular phones.
• Avoid passwords that are obvious choices, like birthdays, telephone numbers, PINs or SINs. But make sure that the password you choose is easy to remember.
• Choose unique passwords. Longer passwords are harder to figure out than shorter passwords.
• Change your password regularly, like every 90 to 120 days.
• Do not permit anyone to watch you type in your password.
• Contact Hudson Bay Credit Union immediately if you cannot remember your password or if you suspect that someone has gained knowledge of your password.
• Contact Hudson Bay Credit Union immediately if you believe there are any errors or omissions in your account.

Protect Your PC

• Never leave your PC unattended while using the Internet banking system. Always exit the Internet banking system and your Internet browser if you step away from your PC.
• If your login name or password automatically appear in the sign-in page of a secure website, you should disable the auto complete function in your browser.
• Install and use a quality anti-virus program.
• Your Internet browser software may retain information you entered until you exit your browser. Secure or erase files stored on your PC by your Internet browser so they cannot be read by others. Most Internet browsers store information in non-encrypted files in the browser's cache to improve performance. The files remain there until they are erased.

Keep Your Software Up-to-Date

The software you use can affect the security of your online banking activities. You should watch for warnings about security "bugs" that may affect the software and web browser you are using. Regularly check for software updates on the website of your manufacturer. Protect yourself against identity theft.

Identity thieves steal your personal information and use it to obtain funds or credit in your name. Identity theft can take months to detect and it can take just as long to correct the damage. To protect yourself from identity theft, do not give thieves an opportunity to steal your information. Keep important information in a safe place. Monitor bills and statements and, when discarding sensitive information, ensure it is shredded.

If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, file a report with the police immediately. Ask for a copy so that you can provide the evidence to the various companies you have to contact. Then contact your credit union representative to ensure that all debit and credit cards, and accounts are secure.