Progressive Ozark Bank is continually LOOKING OUT FOR YOU by taking measures to safeguard your personal information from unscrupulous people. Identity theft is a challenge every business and consumer faces. The following are some precautions that we would highly recommend all individuals exercise in order to protect their privacy and safeguard their personal data. Should you need more information on protecting your privacy or feel that you have been a victim of Identity Theft, feel free to contact us and we would be happy to provide you with additional resources.

• Check your credit report annually– All three national credit reporting companies will provide consumers with a free copy of their credit report once per year. You may visit www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain your free copy.
  
  To obtain your free credit report contact:
  
  Annual Credit Report Request Service
  P.O. Box 105281
  Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
  (877) 322-8228
  

  
  Review your report thoroughly to determine that the activity is in agreement with your own personal activity.
  
• If you bank or pay credit cards on-line, avoid password that include personal information, such as mother’s maiden name or date of birth. Instead, use something unique that only you know and change them often.
  
• Monitor your bank balances and statements carefully and regularly. Look for unexplained charges or withdrawals.
  
• Don’t give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact and are sure you know who you’re dealing with. If you must share personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization.
  
• Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security numbers on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
  
• Progressive Ozark Bank will never ask you to verify personal information over the phone or via e-mail. If you receive a phone call or e-mail asking you to verify information, end the call, do not respond, and call the organization directly.
  
• If you receive an e-mail asking for personal information, do not hit the reply button or click on any website link in the e-mail. Instead, go directly to the sender’s website by typing in the sender’s website address.
  
• Protect your personal information. Don’t leave sensitive documents containing personal information where anyone can see it.
  
• Use a shredder before disposing of personal records, especially financial records.
  
• When going on vacation, temporarily stop mail delivery; the U.S. Postal Service will hold mail for you.
  
• Update the virus protection software on your PC regularly. Don’t use an automatic log-in feature on your computer.

DETECTING IDENTITY THEFT

• Denial of credit for no apparent reason.
  
• Calls or letters about purchases you did not make.
  
• Receiving credit cards for which you did not apply.
  
• Bills that do not arrive as expected.

DEFENDING AGAINST IDENTIFY THEFT

• Place a “fraud alert” on your credit reports, and add a “victim’s statement” to your file requesting that creditors contact you before any new accounts are opened in your name. You only need to contact one of the agencies listed. That agency will notify the other two agencies.
  
  Equifax
  P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348
  Report fraud: Call (800) 525-6285 and write to address above.
  Order credit report: (800) 685-1111.
  Web: www.equifax.com
  
  Experian
  P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
  Report fraud: Call (888) 397-3742) and write to address above. Fax: (800) 301-7196
  Order credit report: (888) 397-3742.
  Web: www.experian.com
  
  TransUnion
  P.O. Box 1426, Buffalo, NY 14231
  Report fraud: (800) 680-7289 and write to address above.
  Order credit report: (800) 632-1765.
  Web: www.transunion.com
  
  
• Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Call
  and speak to someone in the security or fraud department. Follow up in writing sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
  
• File a “Miscellaneous Incidents” report with your local law enforcement agency and obtain a copy of the report. It can help you deal with creditors who need proof of the crime.
  
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You can file a complaint online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or
  call 1-877-ID-THEFT.
  
• Contact Progressive Ozark Bank immediately so that we may put the proper alerts and warnings on your account(s).

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