So many of us feel defenseless when it comes to identity theft and simply “hope” we won’t be affected (or worse yet, affected again). Identity theft can generally be categorized under two forms: fraudulent creation of new accounts and fraudulent activity on existing accounts.

Luckily, most banks, including New Era Bank will help you through fraudulent activity on existing accounts you have open with them—notifying you of suspicious activity and reimbursing you for fraudulent charges when possible depending on account terms. Our New Direction Account is even better though and goes way beyond protecting you on the account itself. It comes with IdProtect®, an identity theft protection service that will assist you through identity theft of any kind whether it’s on existing accounts with New Era Bank or new accounts that have nothing to do with with us. IdProtect® includes the following services should you ever need them:

• Fully Managed Recovery Services (a fraud specialist who will stick with you and manage your case until your identity is restored)
• Up to $10,000 of Reimbursement available for identity theft expenses
• Robust Monitoring Services (including daily credit monitoring and routine monitoring of over 1,000 databases)
• Debit and Credit Card Registration
• And much more - for full details on the IdProtect® services included in the New Direction Account call one of our offices today.

Perhaps one of the coolest features of IdProtect® is that the entire service not only better protects you but also covers those you love most—joint account holders, your spouse, dependent children up to age 25 and parents living in the same household.

With so many options out there for protection against identity theft, it’s hard to know what’s “worth it” and because people don’t know where to start many bypass protection services altogether—leaving themselves even more vulnerable. The great thing about the New Direction Account is that IdProtect® is one of over 10 features and benefits that come along with the account, so you don’t have to worry about how much it costs because it’s included.* It’s simply there for you, as a reliable and trustworthy insurance for you to fall back on in case the unfortunate circumstances of identity theft come knocking at your door.

You can find full details on our New Direction Account on our Personal Checking page. And when you are ready to sign up contact your local branch here. It’s a smart choice that we’re sure will help you rest easier.

At New Era Bank, we always recommend being as proactive as possible when it comes to protecting your identity, so we’ve also provided a few resources below that you can use anytime (whether you sign up for the New Direction Account or not) to up your game when it comes to guarding yourself from Identity Theft.

• Simple Tips To Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft
• Identity Theft Guide from the FTC
• Identity Theft Articles from the FTC

*There is a $4.95 monthly service charge if the minimum relationship balance of $2,500 is not met.

We’ve all heard about security breaches at major retailers that have compromised the credit and debit card data for thousands of people, and if you haven’t experienced a compromised card yourself, you probably know someone who has. The security of our customers is our highest priority at New Era Bank, which is why we’re introducing a new way to manage your debit card—Secure Swipe. This addition to the New Era Bank mobile app will allow you to turn on and off your debit card in real time with just a few taps of your screen, and you can rest easy knowing your card can only be used when you want to use it.

Set Up

To enroll your card, enter in a few details from your card to verify that you are in physical possession of it. Then choose a 4-digit passcode to manage your card through the app—this number is different from your PIN. The enrollment process is quick and simple, and you’ll be able to start managing your card right away.

How It Works

Open up your New Era Bank mobile app and tap on “Debit On/Off” under “Debit Card Management.” You can select:

• Lock card
• Unlock card for one transaction within ten minutes
• Unlock card for three transactions within thirty minutes
• Unlock card for six transactions within four hours
• Unlock card for twelve hours (best for online purchases)

Enter your 4-digit passcode to verify your change. This adds an extra layer of security in case your phone is lost or stolen.

When your card is locked, attempted transactions will be rejected at the Point of Sale (either a physical terminal in a store or an online checkout). However, if you use your debit card for recurring automatic payments, those transactions will be unaffected. For example, if you lock your card for the evening, automatic payments like utility bills or Netflix will still be able to take payment for your account.

Easy Management

You can manage multiple cards from the app, and you can give each card a nickname for easy identification. In the event that your card is misplaced, you can lock the card until it’s rediscovered. If your card is stolen, you can lock it and report it as stolen directly from the app.

Start using Secure Swipe today and enjoy the peace of mind of knowing your debit card is fully under your control.