We understand that your trust in us depends on how secure we keep your personal and account information. Therefore, we take guarding your information very seriously. We will never contact you via e-mail or phone asking for confidential or sensitive information. Additionally, we will never ask you for your account number, PIN, SSN, credit card number or birthday via e-mail or phone. If someone is requesting such from you, it should be considered fraudulent.

If you have received a suspicious e-mail or other fraudulent correspondence regarding our credit union, please forward it to contactus@communitysouth.net.

Our members can be confident that when they access their account information online, their personal information is protected. As more and more members choose to use our free online services, our commitment to fight against Internet fraud grows stronger.

Our online security system includes Enhanced Security Login. This system is in compliance with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) guidelines for protecting members' financial information online. The Enhanced Security Login system requires members to select unique passwords and utilize other authentication devices for online branch access and transactions.

As we work together, we can protect your identity and preserve your good name. Rest assured that we're here to serve you. We will work hard to keep your personal information confidential so that you may continue to enjoy the convenience of our free online services.

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in our country. An identity thief could drain your accounts, make purchases with your credit cards, use your insurance, or ruin your credit.

To help you keep your identity safe and secure, pay close attention to the following signs:

• Credit card and checking account statements that don't arrive when they should for no apparent reason
• Bills for purchases you never made
• Collection agencies attempting to collect on debts that you didn't incur
• Bills from credit accounts you did not open
• Unauthorized charges on your phone or checking account statements
• Credit reports showing new, unauthorized accounts

We also recommend our members review their personal credit report on a regular basis to help prevent fraud. By federal law, every consumer in America has the right to obtain a free copy of his or her credit report. To get a free copy of your credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com.

Phishing is an increasingly common type of spam that can lead to theft of your personal details such as credit card numbers or online banking passwords. Phishing attacks work by the scam artist sending "spoofed" emails that appear to come from a legitimate website that you have online dealings with such as a credit union, bank or credit card company — any site which requires users to have a personal identity or account.

Steps to protect yourself:

• Never respond to emails that request personal financial information
• Visit the websites by typing the URL into the address bar
• Keep a regular check on your accounts
• Check the website you are visiting is secure
• Be cautious with emails and personal data

Some phishing emails or other spam may contain software that can record information on your internet activities (spyware). Installing anti-virus software and keeping it up to date will help detect and disable malicious software. It is also important, particularly for users with a broadband connection, to setup a firewall. This will help keep the information on your computer secure while blocking communication from unwanted sources.

As a result of the events on September 11, 2001, President Bush signed the USA Patriot Act into law.

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

What does this mean for you? When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver's license or other identifying documents.