Important Customer Alerts

Online security is our top priority. Here are current resources for your online banking awareness and education.

For Individuals:		Account Authentication & Online Banking Guidance
For Businesses:		Business Risk Assessment & Layered Security Guidance

For Individuals and Businesses: Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, and has ranked as one of the top consumer concerns for the past several years. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has produced a multimedia presentation to help consumers protect themselves from identity theft. The presentation provides information on steps consumers should take to secure their computer and protect themselves from identity theft, as well as actions consumers should take if they become a victim of identity theft.

Watch the video: Don't Be an On-line Victim: How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams

Please be aware of phishing schemes, phone scams, text messages and emails that may be fraudulent.

In an effort to protect your identity and your accounts, Santa Cruz County Bank will never email you asking for account information. If you receive an email asking for any non-public information, please contact us immediately.

Text Scam:
Please note that Santa Cruz County Bank does not send unsolicited text messages to our clients to request information. If you receive a text relating to your accounts with Santa Cruz County Bank, please disregard the message requesting you to call an 800 number and report this to us immediately by calling 831.457.5000.

Phone Scam:
If you receive a phone message from Santa Cruz County Bank requesting personal information, transaction information or account information, you can always verify with us the validity of the call by contacting us directly at 831.457.5000.

Email Scam:
The FDIC has issued the following Consumer Alert:
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports of a fraudulent e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The subject line of the e-mail states: "check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mail tells recipients that, "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets." The e-mail then asks recipients to "visit the official FDIC website and perform the following steps to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage" (a fraudulent link is provided). It then instructs recipients to "download and open your personal FDIC Insurance File to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage." This e-mail and associated Web site are fraudulent. Recipients should consider the intent of this e-mail as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to on-line banking services or to conduct identity theft. The FDIC does not issue unsolicited e-mails to consumers. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT follow the link in the fraudulent e-mail.

Preventing Identity Theft:
Santa Cruz County Bank is pleased to provide you helpful information on how to protect yourself from Identity Theft. Click here to open a printable brochure.

FDIC Insurance:
Notice of changes in temporary FDIC Insurance coverage for transaction accounts.
All funds in a "noninterest-bearing transaction account" are insured in full by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from December 31, 2010, through December 31, 2012. This temporary unlimited coverage is in addition to, and separate from, the coverage of at least $250,000 available to depositors under the FDIC's general deposit insurance rules.

The term "noninterest-bearing transaction account" includes a traditional checking account or demand deposit account on which the insured depository institution pays no interest. It also includes Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts ("IOLTAs"). It does not include other accounts, such as traditional checking or demand deposit accounts that may earn interest, NOW accounts and money-market deposit accounts. All NOW accounts are insured under the general deposit insurance rules and are no longer eligible for unlimited protection. For more information about temporary FDIC insurance coverage of transaction accounts, visit fdic.gov .

$250,000 FDIC Coverage Amount Permanent:
FDIC Insurance Coverage of $250,000 is permanent with no expiration date. Effective July 21, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which made permanent the current standard maximum deposit insurance amount (SMDIA) of $250,000.

Important Information for our Businesses and Individual Taxpayers:
As a reminder to our local business owners and individual taxpayers, the government issued a regulation that provides the Federal Tax Deposit coupons will no longer be accepted. The IRS recommends the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which is a free service from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. EFTPS is a convenient way to make federal tax payments online or by phone, 24/7. It's secure and easy to use. To enroll, visit eftps.gov or contact EFTPS Customer Service at 1-888-434-7338.

Foreclosure Information:
If you cannot afford your monthly mortgage payments and wish to avoid foreclosure, you may be eligible for a loan "workout" or modification. We determine eligibility for loan "workouts" on a case-bycase basis. Among other things, we will consider the value of your property and your ability (based on your current income) to make monthly mortgage payments in accordance with the "workout." You may also qualify to refinance your current loan with us, including a short term payment deferment.

If you are interested in exploring any of the options listed above, you will need to provide us with certain financial information, including the following: your most recent paystub, list of current monthly expenses, your most recent tax return, bank statements, a current valuation of your property, if available (such as an appraisal) and a written explanation detailing your need for a loan "workout" or modification.

If you would like to discuss your options to avoiding foreclosure with us, please call the Loan Administration Manager or Chief Credit Officer of Santa Cruz County Bank at 1-866-776-6807. You may also contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to find a HUD certified housing counseling agency by calling 1-800-569-4287. Additional information is made available by HUD on its website at http://www.hud.gov .

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