Consumer Alerts
Information security is a top priority of Southern Heritage Bank. You will never be asked to furnish personal information via an email or other electronic means.
If ever asked to furnish any personal information, please ignore the request and delete the email. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
You may have recently received or heard about a chain e-mail that claims false information about PIN security. "PIN reversal technology" is a concept based upon the possibility that a cardholder could remember (and reverse) his or her PIN at an ATM to draw attention to a dangerous situation like a kidnapping or robbery. There is no plan to develop or implement this technology, as it is unlikely that anybody could successfully employ this technique in a stressful situation.
In summary, if you hear that reversing your PIN at an ATM would notify authorities, this is NOT accurate and may be part of a scam to obtain your confidential information.
If you have any questions about this notice, please feel free to contact our ATM Department at 423-303-2883.
Protecting yourself against "Phishing," a type of online fraud.
Identity theft over the Internet is on the rise and "Phishing" is one form of fraud that attempts to obtain your personal information through the use of emails, websites, and popups.
This type of fraud occurs when you receive an email that is sent as though the email is from a legitimate company.
The email will request sensitive personal information by telling you to either supply the information in a popup window or by clicking on a web link that sends you to a counterfeit web site. Once the information is obtained the data may be unlawfully used against you to create transactions on your existing accounts.
Keep in mind that Western National Bank will not send emails asking for customer information. Any such emails should be reported immediately as a fraudulent email.
Fraudulent emails will ask you for your confidential information. These emails will appear as though your account information has expired and will ask you to update your account with current information as soon as possible. Some examples of this information may include user names, passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers, addresses, social security numbers, and phone numbers.
Fraudulent emails may appear to be from a genuine source. Many "Phishing" emails are constructed as though the email appears to be from a legitimate email address. The email may contain actual company logos and be very professionally worded. The sender of the email can also easily manipulate the address of the email to make it look as though it is from a trusted source.
Fraudulent emails will also link to bogus Web sites. Once a web link is clicked in the counterfeit email a phony website may be displayed that appears to be official. The website will then proceed to prompt you for your confidential information.
Fraudulent email may also contain bogus phone numbers. Fake Phone numbers may be used to make the email or website appear as though it is legitimate. The email or website could also contain actual phone numbers of the company. The thought is that if the email contains a company phone number then the email must be legitimate. Look up the phone number in a phone book and call to verify the email.
Do not click on any of the links in the email. If you find an email that you believe to be fraudulent either call our customer service department at (423)473-7980 or email postmaster@southernheritagebank.com to report it.
