Fraud & Security

Working together is the best fraud protection

What is bank fraud?

Bank fraud is a criminal act that involves the use of deceit or deception to gain unauthorized access to funds or financial information. It can take many forms, including identity theft, phishing scams and account takeover. By working together, we can help ensure your financial information remains safe and secure.

Report Fraud
Do you feel you've been a victim of fraud? Report Fraud
Online Banking Security

Here's how we protect you

Unique identifiers

You need a valid access code to access certain account and financial information.

Encryption

We use Transport Layer Security technology to ensure data is protected in transit.

Security guarantee

Be confident knowing that you're covered against unauthorized transactions on your accounts.

Timeout

Your session in our online application will automatically end after a period of inactivity.

Take Action

Steps to protect yourself

Step 1

Maintain accurate contact information

Ensure your account contact information is up to date so that we can quickly contact you about any suspicious activity.

Update your contact information , Opens in a new tab
Step 2

Use strong passwords

Use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols when creating a password. Avoid using easily guessable information such as your name or birthdate. Also, change your password regularly and don't use the same one for multiple accounts.

Update your Digital Banking password , Opens in a new tab
Step 3

Enable two-factor authenticaion

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your account. This makes it more difficult for fraudsters to access your account, even if they have your password.

Step 4

Enable account alerts

Account alerts are important because they provide you with real-time notifications about your account activity, helping you detect and prevent fraud, in addition to monitoring your spending and account balances.

Learn More About Account Alerts
Step 5

Enable biometrics

Biometrics provides an added layer of security, making it more difficult for unauthorized individuals to access your account. Biometric authentication—such as fingerprint—is unique to you and can't be replicated, making it a highly secure form of identification.

Help protect yourself

Scammers can make text messages and emails look like they're from First Citizens, when in fact they're not. To protect yourself from these threats, consider the following:

  • Never click on suspicious links in texts or emails.
  • Don't share your account information, user IDs, passwords or other sensitive information through text, email or with an unsolicited caller.
  • Enroll in First Citizens Digital Banking text and email alerts to help you keep on top of your account activity.
  • Never give your Digital Banking Secure Access Code, or SAC, to anyone.

Remember that we'll never text, email or call you to request security codes or other sensitive personal information.

Signs a message is scam

Signs a Message is a Scam

A vague text from an unknown number. An alarming phone call from your bank. A phone call or a message about debt that’s old or unfamiliar. A sense of urgency or threats—or a request to send money or pay debt using an unusual payment method. All of these are red flags that you might be dealing with a scammer. While it used to be much easier to spot a scam, fraudsters have started to evolve their tactics—and their scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. That’s why when it comes to fraud prevention, vigilance is key.

Here’s how to protect yourself.

First, keep an eye out for those red flags, as well as any demands for secrecy or threats of arrest, embarrassment or blackmail. Also, any request involving payment via wire transfer or the purchase of gift cards or cryptocurrency should be an immediate red flag. Criminals prefer these methods because they’re difficult to trace.

Next, remember that government agencies like the IRS and FBI won’t contact you by phone to discuss unpaid taxes or other sensitive matters. If you’re contacted about any type of debt, ask the caller to validate the debt in writing. This is a legal requirement from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that any legitimate debt collector will adhere to. If someone is harassing or threatening you, block them, and be sure to report any additional emails, text messages or phone calls you may receive.

Finally, know that your bank will never contact you and ask for your PIN, password or verification code. If you receive an unsolicited text or phone call that appears to be from your bank, do not provide any information or click on any links. Instead, hang up and call your bank using the number on the back of your card.

And always remember: If something doesn’t add up or if you’re being pressured—particularly if there’s money involved—just stop engaging.

For more fraud prevention tactics, visit FirstCitizens.com/fraud-prevention.

Fraud & Security Insights

Protect yourself with knowledge

Reporting Options

Report fraud activity and identity theft

Fraud & Security FAQ

People often ask us

Absolutely. Your deposits at First Citizens are protected up to at least $250,000 by the FDIC.

As added assurance, we have over a 120-year banking history. As one of America's largest family-controlled banks, we're known for our stability, financial discipline and long-term focus. Our time-tested strategies ensure that we'll be here for you now and in the future.

We take protecting your personal information seriously, and use state-of-the-art security technology to safeguard your account information. There are also some simple steps you can take to increase the security of your personal information.

The first thing you can do is to use strong passwords and user IDs. Hackers always go for the most obvious passwords and login IDs. So think of a phrase, a song lyric or quote and throw in some capital letters, numbers and symbols. And never use personal information such as family names, birthdates, phone numbers, etc.

It's also very important that you don't give your personal information to anyone who contacts you by phone, web, email or text message. Personal information includes your Social Security number, account numbers or any other information that can be used to personally identify you.

To report suspicious activity, contact us immediately at 866-567-7760.

You can also place a fraud alert on your credit file to prevent fraudsters from opening new accounts or making changes to your existing accounts. You only need to notify one credit bureau—the one you choose will notify the other credit bureaus.

Equifax: 800-525-6285

TransUnion: 833-395-6938

Experian: 888-397-3742

If you receive a suspicious email or text message, don't respond, click on links or open attachments. If we reach out to you by phone, we won't ask for confidential information—such as your card PIN, access code or online banking password.

Be on the lookout for phone calls, emails or texts from even legitimate sounding companies that either solicit your assistance or offer to help. Never give out your Social Security number, bank account numbers or other personal information to companies or individuals unless you initiated the conversation.

Links to third-party websites may have a privacy policy different from First Citizens Bank and may provide less security than this website. First Citizens Bank and its affiliates are not responsible for the products, services and content on any third-party website.

Bank deposit products are offered by First Citizens Bank. Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. icon: sys-ehl.

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