Let’s be careful out there …

Ah, the holiday season.  I feel so busy this time of year.  Mostly due to gift purchasing — which could really be considered a part-time job for me.  The time I spend making, managing and tracking all of my online orders is ridiculous.  I normally do a good deal of online shopping.   My most recent online order consisted of fabric softener, kitchen sponges, a new blanket for the guest room and three pairs of sparkly pants for my daughter, who will only wear clothing that sparkles.  Now, on top of a typical order such as that, I have been placing additional orders for holiday gifts for family and friends.  Needless to say, my checking and credit card accounts are buzzing with activity. So much activity, that it would be fairly easy to lose track of things.  And, with fraud on the rise this time of year, it is especially important that you do your best to monitor your accounts.  Here are a few facts and pointers to help you navigate the holiday season, or any time of year.

• Log into your online banking as often as possible to review your account activity. Our mobile banking site is a great way to do this while you’re on the go and it’s easy to access with our mobile app.
• At Heartland Credit Union, you have built in fraud monitoring for your debit and credit cards. If our fraud team notices a charge on your card that looks suspicious, they will contact you via text message or automated phone call to verify the charge.
• Keep your personal information up to date, so that our fraud team can easily get a hold of you.
• You have zero liability for fraudulent charges on your debit and credit cards. Get in touch with us if you see a strange charge on your account, and we’ll help you through the process.