SECURITY
Overview
We work hard to protect your confidential information and privacy when dealing with us online. A secure login process and strong encryption are only the first steps in helping to prevent others from accessing your account information online.

DC Bank is committed to the privacy and security of customer information. In the financial services business confidentiality is critical. We continually strive to do our utmost to ensure your information is protected.

When you connect to the Internet, the Internet also connects back to you. Even before you connect to the Bank's web site, someone out there could potentially get access to your computer. Also, as you surf the Internet, there is a trail of information left behind.

While we are doing all we can to safeguard your information, there are also important measures you can take to protect yourself when you bank online. Please take the time to read over this valuable security information.
Your Responsibility
Maintaining the care, control and confidentiality of your card number, login ID and web password is your responsibility as set out in our customer agreements. DirectCash Bank is not responsible for unauthorized access to accounts online or losses that occur as a result of you voluntarily disclosing your card number, login ID or web password, or the careless or improper handling, storing or disclosure by you of this information.

The Canadian Banking Association offers monthly fraud prevention tips via e-mail. Find out what you can do to protect yourself by signing up today to receive their tip of the month. Please connect to http://www.cba.ca.
Security Considerations for Safe Online Banking
What We Do
Some of the security measures we have in place to help protect you when using our online banking services include:

Strong encryption technology to help ensure that data passing between your PC and our web server is secure, therefore you must have a browser that supports this level of encryption.

Digital certificates issued by trusted third party companies to let you know that our site is secure and genuine.

Firewalls to protect your information with us.
What We Don’t Do
We never send you messages asking you to provide us with personal or account information via email (see email scams and “phishing” for more information). Please keep in mind that email messages are not encrypted and therefore, subject to being intercepted and read by third parties.
What You Can Do
Here are some of the security measures you can take to protect your confidential information when you use the Internet:
1. For Online Banking Do the Following
Always verify the Bank's web site name in the "Address" (Internet Explorer) at the top of the browser, for example: www.dcbank.ca

Keep your debit and credit cards and passwords/PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) safe.

Do not divulge your passwords/PINs to anyone

Change your passwords regularly following guidelines on how to choose a strong password

Always log off to end your secure session.

Once logged off, delete all traces of your secure session from the memory of your computer.

Make sure nobody watches you if you are using online banking.

Avoid using software that "memorizes" passwords.

Do not leave your computer with a secure session running.

Sending confidential or personal information through email, as it is NOT a secure method of contact.

Do not use a computer in a public place (for example in a library or an Internet café) to conduct financial transactions with us – protect your privacy and understand the risks of using someone else’s PC for your secure sessions.
2. For General Computer Security
Take these steps:

Be sure to scan your PC frequently with an updated version of antivirus software. Nowadays, antivirus updates come out at least once a week.

Consider using a personal firewall. You can use either software-based or hardware-based firewalls.

In order that your home network remains private and secure, please ensure you have changed the default password associated with your router. Additionally, if you use a wireless router, please ensure you have enabled the appropriate encryption and security options. For assistance with these matters, please consult the documentation provided by your router’s manufacturer, or visit the manufacturer's website.

Protect your computer, especially if you are using a cable modem or DSL connection by disabling file sharing in Windows products.

Update your PC’s operating system and the browser with security patches on a regular basis. Check Microsoft's Windows O/S and Internet Explorer frequently for recently published security patches.

Back up your data regularly.

Avoid the following:

Sending any confidential information (including SIN, account numbers, passwords, PINs) via regular email.

Accepting files or attachments when accessing websites, newsgroups or chat rooms, unless you are very sure of their authenticity.
3. For General Financial Services Security
Do the following:

Report stolen/lost credit and debit cards immediately.
Review your monthly financial statements and report any discrepancies and/or unusual account activity.
Sign your debit/credit card as soon as you receive it.

Avoid the following:

Sending us information regarding your account numbers, credit card numbers and/or PINs and passwords via email.
Remember: Emails are not encrypted.

Beware of software downloads with offers of “free services”

Organizations that capture information about usage and buying behavior patterns on the Internet are now emerging. Some of these organizations monitor individual Internet activity through software downloaded to your personal computer or on a public computer you use.

This includes everything you type on your computer: your card numbers, account numbers and passwords. It also includes the personal and confidential information on the secure pages that you browse and the personal and confidential information you provide when you use our otherwise secure online applications.

You may have knowingly downloaded this software in exchange for free services, or you may be unaware that it is on your PC (for example, if you download several software programs bundled into the same download).

“Beware” of downloading software with offers of “free email virus protection” or a “no cost Internet accelerator” or other such enticements if you have to give up your privacy and the security of your online financial transactions. These offers can result in a third party company monitoring your Internet activity.

Understand the risks – don’t compromise your privacy and online security.

Some of these companies monitor all of your Internet behavior, including your normal web browsing and the activity you may have through secure sessions, such as shopping or filling out an online application form that may contain your personal financial information.

When you access our secure online services (e.g. Online Banking) on PCs that have this monitoring software installed, your otherwise session information runs through third party computers and gives the third party access to your confidential information.

We do what we can to provide you with a safe and secure online environment. We also need you to take the appropriate measures to secure your personal computing environment. We strongly recommend that you avoid using computers with third party monitoring software installed when you conduct your online financial transactions with us to safeguard your privacy.

Removing Third Party Software from your computer

Removing such software from your PC can be difficult. We suggest that you install and run spyware detection software*. For more information on removing spyware from your PC, search the keyword “spyware removal” through any of the following:

AllTheWeb
AltaVista
AOL Search
Ask Jeeves
Google
HotBot
Lycos
LookSmart
MSN
Yahoo

“Marketscore” and “Netsetter” are two known examples of Internet usage monitoring programs. Although they may not strictly qualify as “spyware”, we do not recommend that you use PCs to conduct financial transactions with us when “Marketscore” and/or “Netsetter” software is installed.

* Please note that removing third party software from your PC can be difficult. You may want to consult a trusted third party that specializes in computer maintenance and repair for assistance.
4. How to Help Protect Yourself
It is important to understand that there are ways in which you can help protect yourself from email fraud and web sites that request your personal or banking information:

If you receive an email pretending to be from a member of DirectCash Bank that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply or click on the link in the email. To ensure that the email is legitimate, contact us immediately:
Online Banking: 1 888 466 4043

Never send personal and/or financial information via unsecured email.
Do not trust email headers. They can be easily forged.
5. How to Protect your Debit Card and PIN
Here are some tips to help protect your debit card and PIN:

Use your hand or body to shield your PIN when you are conducting transactions at an Automated Banking Machine (ABM) or at a point-of-sale terminal.

Never let your banking card out of your sight when conducting a transaction at a point-of-sale terminal.

Always remember to take your banking card and transaction record with you once your transaction is completed.
Regularly check your statements and balances to verify all transactions have been properly documented. If entries do not accurately reflect transaction activities, for example, if there are missing or additional transactions, you should contact us immediately.

If your banking card is lost, stolen or retained by an ABM, notify us immediately.
Your banking card and PIN are the keys to your account(s). Never disclose your PIN to
anyone … not even us. You are the only person who should know it.

Memorize your PIN - it's your electronic signature. If you suspect that someone knows your PIN contact us to cancel the card.

For further information, you can also visit the following sites:

Canadian Bankers Association www.cba.ca
Interac®* Association www.interac.org