Protect Your Information

Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. First Bank and Trust Company is extremely devoted to protecting your personal information. Be aware and suspicious of emails, phone calls, and regular mailings that request your personal information.

Never give personal information concerning your account numbers, social security number, passwords or other information to anyone.  Never use email to send confidential personal information.

First Bank and Trust Company will never use email to ask you for nonpublic information. “Phishing” is a common scam using email disguised as being legitimate, from a bank or well known company, to request sensitive information. Information gathered by “Phishing” may be used to order goods and services, maybe even obtaining credit.

Always review your bank and credit card statements immediately upon receiving them for any unauthorized charges. Immediately report any unauthorized or questionable charges. You have 60 days on which to report charges in question.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers many useful informational resources for educating the consumer.  Please take a few minutes to visit the website of the Federal Trade Commission to get up-to-date information regarding consumer protection.  First Bank and Trust Company considers consumer protection to be very important.  The FTC offers the following resources, as well as many others, to educate the public on red flags and risks associated with identity theft:

• FTC, “How Not to Get Hooked by the ‘Phishing Scam,’” October 2006
  https://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt127.pdf
• FTC, “Fighting Back Against Identity Theft,”
  https://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft//

Remember to NEVER respond to emails or phone calls that solicit private information.