FDIC
- Confirm that an Online Bank is Legitimate and
that Your Deposits Are Insured
Whether you are selecting
a traditional bank or an online bank that has no physical offices, it's
wise to make sure that it is legitimate and that your deposits are federally
insured. Here are tips specifically designed for consumers considering
banking over the Internet.
- Read key information
about our bank posted on our Web site.
Our bank Web site has an
"Our Bank" section that describes our institution. You will find a brief
history of the bank, the official name and address of the bank's main
branch, and information about our insurance coverage from the FDIC.
- Protect yourself from
fraudulent Web sites.
For example, watch out for
copycat Web sites that deliberately use a name or Web address very similar
to, but not the same as, that of a real financial institution. The intent
is to lure you into clicking onto their Web site and giving your personal
information, such as your account number and password. Always check
to see that you have typed the correct Web site address for your bank
before conducting a transaction.
- Verify the bank's insurance
status.
To verify the bank's insurance
status, look for the familiar FDIC logo or the words "Member FDIC" or
"FDIC Insured" on the Web site.
Also, you should check the
FDIC's online database of FDIC-insured institutions. You can search
for an institution by going to the FDIC's home page at http://www.fdic.gov
and selecting "Is My Bank Insured?" Enter the official name, city, and
state of the bank, and click the "Find My Institution" button. A positive
match will display the official name of the bank, the date it became
insured, its insurance certificate number, the main office location
for the bank, and its primary government regulator. If your bank does
not appear on this list, contact the FDIC.
Also, at http://www2.fdic.gov/edie
you can learn about deposit insurance and estimate the adequacy of your
deposit insurance using EDIE, your Electronic
Deposit Insurance Estimator
.
DISCLAIMER NOTICE:
By clicking on these links, you will exit our web site. We make no representations
nor do we assume any responsibility for the accuracy of information
on other web sites which you visit.
