It’s the time of year when retail companies are filling up your inboxes with ads for special deals on items and promotions. Whether you take advantage of those deals or not, you’re still at risk for being targeted by fraudsters. 

Do you know what to do to protect yourself? Here’s a few debit card tips:

• Carry only the cards you need. They can’t be stolen or lost if they aren’t in your purse or pocket.
• Keep credit/debit cards close. Never leave your wallet or purse unattended. 
• Never let your card out of your sight. Skimming devices, which record card information, can be hidden in a hand or under a counter. 
• Don’t lend your card to a friend or family member. No matter how much you trust them, your card isn’t in your control if you don’t have it.
• Always check your receipts and look for unauthorized charges on your statement. If anything looks fishy, report it immediately. 
• Make a list of card numbers, expiration dates, and the toll-free numbers of your financial institution. Keep this record in a safe place (not in your wallet, with your cards) so you have access to it in an emergency.

And a few more regarding online shopping:

• When shopping online, check to be sure the sites are reputable and secure. Look for web addresses with “https” in the address.
• Don’t shop online using public Wi-Fi. Hackers can easily gain access and steal your information. 
• Don’t respond to emails asking for personal financial information, they are likely phishing emails designed to capture passwords, logins, credit card details etc. 

And, finally, always – ALWAYS - report lost cards and suspected fraud right away!

Fraud is becoming more and more frequent and it’s no longer limited to online scams. Our fraud team works 24/7 to monitor and protect you from suspicious transactions. And, because we’re so careful, sometimes that can occasionally mean an inconvenience to you if you’ve swiped your card in a state other than the one you live in - and we don’t know you’re there.

Bottom line is… if you’re planning to be out-of-state for the holidays this year, make sure you let us know about those plans. Please, also keep your contact information up-to-date so our fraud team can reach you in a time of need.

Do you need to get us an update or let us know about your plans? Contact your local branch or our customer service representatives at 1-888-262-5456.

The internet is a powerful resource that many Americans have come to depend on for everyday activities like shopping, banking, and connecting with friends. Yet, for all the internet’s advantages, it can also make users vulnerable to fraud, identity theft and other scams. According to a Norton Cybercrime Report, 378 million adults worldwide were victims of cybercrime in 2013.

In recognition of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’d like to offer the following tips to help consumers stay safe and secure online:

• Keep your computers and mobile devices up to date.  Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats. Turn on automatic updates so you receive the newest fixes as they become available.
• Set strong passwords. A strong password is at least eight characters in length and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Watch out for phishing scams. Phishing scams use fraudulent emails and websites to trick users into disclosing private account or login information. Do not click on links or open any attachments or pop-up screens from sources you are not familiar with.
  • Forward phishing emails to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at spam@uce.gov – and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the email.
  • Keep personal information personal. Hackers can use social media profiles to figure out your passwords and answer those security questions in the password reset tools. Lock down your privacy settings and avoid posting things like birthdays, addresses, mother’s maiden name, etc.  Be wary of requests to connect from people you do not know.
  • Secure your internet connection. Always protect your home wireless network with a password. When connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, be cautious about what information you are sending over it.
  • Shop safely. Before shopping online, make sure the website uses secure technology. When you are at the checkout screen, verify that the web address begins with https. Also, check to see if a tiny locked padlock symbol appears on the page.

Read the site’s privacy policies. Though long and complex, privacy policies tell you how the site protects the personal information it collects.

Today is National Agriculture Day, a day organized by the Agriculture Council of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s key role in modern society.

Ag Day is the perfect time to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by modern agriculture. We salute and thank all of you involved in the agriculture industry. We know that food, clothing and other daily necessities don’t just arrive in stores, but rather, go through many steps on the way to our tables and homes.

Central National Bank is proud to have served local farmers and ranchers and agri-businesses for the past 130 years. Money for Life isn’t just a tagline for us… we intend to continue to do all we can to assist our agriculture clients in any way we can.

We’re in the process of finalizing and releasing new and improved mobile apps! Over the next week, you will see a new version of our apps available in the Google Play Store and iTunes. Once the new app is available, you can download and install it and then uninstall the previous version. You’ll also be prompted within the current version of the app to download the new version of our app once it’s available.

The new apps will feature a much-improved user interface as well as additional features such as CNB branch location listings and debit card integration! Stay tuned for more information, and thanks for your patience as we go through this process.

A screenshot of the “Home” screen on the new iOS app is shown below, first, and the Android version, second.

Target released a statement today confirming a breach which affects nearly 40 million credit and debit card holders.

Anyone who shopped at a Target Store between November 27, 2013 and December 15, 2013 could be at risk. As a result of this situation, Central National Bank has decided to reissue new cards and PIN’s to all customers impacted by this breach. We also encourage you to monitor your accounts closely.

Central National Bank takes the protection and security of our customer information very seriously and we are actively monitoring accounts for suspicious activity.  If you notice something suspicious on your account please contact us immediately. We can immediately inactivate your card and work with you to dispute the fraudulent charges.

To learn more about this situation read Target’s official statement at https://corporate.target.com/discover/article/Important-Notice-Unauthorized-access-to-payment-ca

Spring is here… which always makes me want to redecorate or go shopping! Since I don’t always have the budget to pick up things I like, I have found a way to get new things without spending any money! The best part? My friends benefit too!

It’s called a Swap Party, and anyone can do it.

This idea came from a friend of mine that lives in Las Vegas. She sets aside a night and invites a groups of friends over. She asks them to bring a few items that they no longer need or want. (These items must be of good quality. Be clear about what is swap-worthy. Only clean goods in gently used condition) The night of the party everyone comes with their items and you set up shop! Allow everyone to choose items as if they were in a store. You can go home with some pretty awesome stuff you didn’t have to pay for, and you’ll get rid of some things you didn’t want in the process!!

Here’s a few tips:

• Remember, it is a party, so have fun!
• Serve your favorite punch and a few simple snack foods.
• Give guests room to spread out their items by clearing off surfaces, such as dining and side tables. Use bins and trunks to serve as display space.

Make sure to outline one (or all) of these simple rules (or create your own) so everyone is on the same page:

• Establish a system - Choose one of the following swapping strategies, which should be explained in your Invitation or at the start of the party.
• Take turns shopping - Roll the Dice to pick who shops first. Limit the number of items to three per turn to keep it fair and moving fast.
• Use tokens - The host hands out a poker chip for every item a guest donates. If a person brings 10 items, she gets 10 tokens with which she can purchase 10 new items.
• Keep the numbers even - Everybody goes home with the same number of items that they donated.

Another Swap Option: Clothing and Accessories

How to organize: Set up a garment rack with hangers, or string up a clothesline, then prop up a full-length mirror. Make signs, and sort fashions by size, type, season, or even personality. (Julie, Samantha, Britni, and Miranda, anyone?)

What to consider at a clothing swap: You may want to invite people who are roughly in the same size range (though anyone can trade bags, jewelry, and scarves).

At the end of the night, if there are items left, whoever hosted the party should donate the leftovers to a local charity or thift shop.

**Another fun variation on the Swap Party idea: Hold a Swap Party as a fundraiser! If you’ve got to raise money for the PTO, or want to donate to a local charity or organization, get together and hold a silent auction with items you no longer want. If you do it amongst friends you’re more likely to go home with something you like (rather than your typical rummage sale). And, everyone will still go home with a bargain but you’ll have raised some money for a good cause!

I hope this idea inspires you. Happy Swapping!!!

Contributed by Guest Blogger – Jodi

Many of our faithful followers are already telling their friends about the excellent service they receive at Central National Bank, but those that aren’t are about to miss out on an excellent deal. In January and February we’re offering $25 to our customers who refer their friends to us. All you have to do is pick up your friend referral cards at your local branch and fill in your information. Then, hand them to your friends and tell them about the excellent service you receive at Central! When they open an account, all they have to do is hand over the card. See details below. It’s for a limited time only, so don’t miss out!