E-mail Security

E-mail sent over the Internet is not protected. It can be intercepted and seen by others. It can also be used to send damaging software that can infect your PC. Therefore:

• Use caution with e-mail attachments; they could contain viruses. Never open e-mail attachments from people you don’t know — just delete them. If you need to open them, make sure they are scanned by anti-virus software.

• Even if you know the person who sent an e-mail, contact the sender if the attachment was unexpected or seems suspicious. When in doubt, delete.

• When you’ve finished browsing the Web, disconnect from the Internet to avoid unwanted access to information on your PC.

• Never send confidential information (your password, credit card number, secret word, PIN, Social Security number, etc.) in an Internet e-mail.

• Never send an Internet e-mail reply to a solicitation for personal information. First Citizens will not ask you to send confidential or private information over the Internet via e-mail.

• First Citizens’ Online Banking customers may use secure messaging within Online Banking to ask account questions. Online Banking is free to all customers who register for the service. Other account-related fees still apply.