The information accessed primarily includes names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. In addition, credit card numbers for approximately 209,000 U.S. consumers, and certain dispute documents with personal identifying information for approximately 182,000 U.S. customers, were accessed.

Although this is not the largest breach that has ever occurred, it is the largest in respect to the severity of personal information taken. It has been reported that 44% of Americans are affected. At this time, it’s unknown who was behind the breach, if taken by criminals, the potential for the personal information to be sold and resold on the dark web is a real threat.

Please see the Equifax website for more details and ways to protect yourself. https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/.

The FBI RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING:

• Ensure anti-virus software is up-to-date
• Implement a data back-up and recovery plan to maintain copies of sensitive or proprietary data in a separate and secure location. Backup copies of sensitive data should not be readily accessible from local networks
• Enable automated patches for your operating system and web browser

Remember that criminals will use an email, telephone messages (phishing) or text messages on cell phones to trick recipients into disclosing personal and financial data. Some phishing attempts ask e-mail or text recipients to respond with personal information; and others include links to what appear to be familiar Web sites but are really spoofed copies. Once the user clicks on the link to the spoofed site, all future online activity gets funneled through the phisher’s system, giving him or her access to any account numbers and passwords the user enters online. It can’t be stressed enough that you should NEVER respond to an e-mail asking you to verify or update your personal information, NEVER click on links in unsolicited e-mail that you receive, delete any unsolicited e-mails—don’t even open them! Protect your passwords. Never write them down or enter them online unless YOU initiated the transaction. NEVER give out your personal or financial information on the phone or online unless you initiated contact. CHECK your credit report at least once annually or sign-up for weekly or monthly alerts through credit management agencies. At home, use spam blockers, firewalls, virus protection, and adware & malware destroyers. Update your Operating System whenever security patches are available.

You can also visit www.identitytheft.gov/Info-Lost-or-Stolen to learn more about protecting yourself after a data breach. Provided by LCS Helping Credit Unions Compete

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With life’s demands and hectic pace, overdrawing an account can happen to the best of us. That’s why we offer Courtesy Pay, a service that provides approved account holders the ability to overdraw their check-ing account . This non-contractual overdraft protection service requires no member action or signed agreement – and costs noth-ing unless the privilege is used. At such time as the courtesy pay is used the fee is $28 per transaction up to approved limit. If you forget or miscalculate something, Courtesy Pay saves you time, money and embarrassment from having a Non-Sufficient Fund (NSF) item returned to a merchant.

If you do not have Courtesy Pay and are interested or if you are interested in other overdraft protection options, please contact our offices at 417-627-1000 or 417-623-9816 for more information.

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However, under federal, state, and NCUA laws and regulations, as well as the credit union bylaws an account that has not had any activity for a period of 12 months is con-sidered dormant. This does NOT include children’s accounts, members with Visa credit cards, CD’s, or IRAs. Accounts without a valid address will be monitored for un-claimed property status.

Prior to a dormant account fee of $25 being charged , a letter is sent to the member re-minding them of inactivity on their account. If no response is received a second letter is sent within 30 days of the first one. If no response after two letters, a fee is then charged to the account in the last month of the quarter.

To prevent your account from going dormant you just need to make at least one deposit, withdrawal, or transfer to the account per year.

Fees are assessed at $25 per year after 12 months of inactivity. The fee shall continue until the balance in the account is zero (closing the account) or until the account becomes active.

Please note that dormant accounts are much more susceptible to fraud, as mem-bers are not reviewing or accessing them on a regular basis.

If a member brings the account to an active status, inactive fees already assessed will not be refunded.

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