Resource Center

How to Report Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious matter to Pacific Crest and if you believe you are a victim of identity theft, please take the following actions:

1. Report the incident to Pacific Crest at (800) 335-4126.
2. Notify your local law enforcement agency and ask to file an Identity Theft Report.
3. Call the fraud departments of all three major credit reporting agencies and ask them to put a “fraud alert” on your file. This tells creditors to call you before they open any more accounts in your name.
   Equifax: To report fraud (800) 525-6285; to order a report (800) 685-1111
   Experian: To report fraud or order a report (888) 397-3742
   TransUnion: To report fraud (800) 680-7289; to order a report (800) 916-8800
4. Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline at (877) ID-THEFT (438-4338).

Security Awareness

Educating yourself is the first line of defense against identity theft. Become familiar with and aware of any current issues or security threats that exist by visiting the following sites:

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/guard/
http://www.onguardonline.gov/
http://www.identitytheft.gov/
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0076-phone-scams
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

Security Tips to Protect Your Online and Mobile Banking Account Information

• Don’t reveal your username or password to anyone. Your username and password are designated to protect your banking information. This only works if you keep the information to yourself.
• Create a safe password – the longer and more complex the harder it is to guess.
• Don’t walk away from your computer if you are in the middle of an Online Banking session.
• Once you have finished your Online or Mobile Banking session, log off before visiting other internet sites or mobile applications.
• If you notice any suspicious or unusual activity related to any of your accounts, contact Pacific Crest immediately.
• If your mobile device is lost or stolen, we recommend that you contact us so we can disable your Mobile Banking access.
• It is advised that you not utilize public Wi-Fi for connectivity to Online or Mobile Banking. Public Wi-Fi can be configured to capture private information from unsuspecting internet users.

Other Helpful Security Tips

Computer and mobile device management

• Secure your computer with a password-protected login, anti-virus software, anti-spyware and a firewall.
• Keep your computer and mobile device browser and operating system up-to-date by taking advantage of the latest security patches and enhancements.
• Update your anti-virus software regularly. Take all necessary steps to keep your computer and mobile device free from viruses or malware that might be used to capture password keystrokes or transmit information from your computer or mobile device to an unauthorized 3rd party.

Be careful what and how you share

• Never give your personal information by phone, online or by email unless you initiated contact with the individual or company requesting it.
• Be suspicious of emails and text messages requesting account and password information. Always question the sender and why they need it.  It’s vital to verify a source before responding, following links or downloading files.  Do not ever provide account information such as PINs, usernames or passwords in an email or text message.
• Limit the personal details you share on social media and/or consider limiting access to your personal page—it can provide identity thieves with too much information. They can use information on your sites to guess your passwords or the answers to challenge questions used by secure sites. Choose wisely when setting up challenge questions. For example, avoid choosing questions like, “What is your high school mascot?” and others with easily-discovered answers.

Manage your email and postal mail

• Use extreme caution on emails that contain attachments or links.  Don’t open files, click on links, or download programs unless you are expecting them from sender.  Send a new separate email to the sender to verify the content.  If the sender is unknown to you, it’s best to delete it.  Opening a file or following a link could expose your system to a computer virus or spyware that captures your passwords or other information you type.
• Use secure drop locations for outgoing mail like post office collection boxes and retrieve incoming mail from your mailbox right away or use a locked mailbox.

Be aware of your surroundings

• Don’t use any ATM that shows signs of tampering, and report any such suspicions to the bank or ATM operator.
• Keep your credit and debit card in sight whenever possible, and swipe or insert the chip yourself if you have that option.

Store and dispose of information carefully

• Store financial documents and records in a secure, preferably locked location—yes, even at home.
• Shred all printed documents with account information before discarding them. Destroy records, receipts, credit offers and applications, checks, bank statements and expired credit cards if you no longer need them. Check with your financial adviser or your state’s Attorney General for guidelines on how long to keep personal records.
• Before disposing of computers or other devices, permanently wipe the device—information left behind can be a gateway to all of your online activity and accounts. To learn more, see the FTC’s information on safely disposing of computers and mobile devices.

Depending upon your financial circumstances, there may be options available which could help you avoid foreclosure. These may include: Loan Modification, Temporary Forbearance, Refinancing, Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure or Pre-Foreclosure sale.

Below are some important steps you should take:

1) Contact Your Lender – If you are having trouble making your payments, contact Pacific Crest Savings Bank Loan Servicing at (800) 335-4126 or (425) 670-9600 to discuss your situation and the options mentioned above.

2) Gather the following Financial Documents – You will need to gather the following documents when you meet to discuss your loan options for avoiding foreclosure:

• Completed Personal Financial Statement (contact us for the form)
• Completed request for Transcript of Tax Return (contact us for the form)
• Signed copy of the most recently filed Tax Returns (including all schedules)
• Copies of your last month’s pay stubs
• Copy of your most current bank statements

3) Additional Assistance and Resources to Contact – The following resources may provide you with important information and assistance:

• Washington State Homeownership Information Hotline: (877) 894-4663
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc or call (800) 569-4287 (TTY: (800) 877-8339)
• State of Washington’s Department of Financial Institutions at www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/homeownership/
• FDIC Foreclosure Prevention Information at www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/prevention/

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)
The interest rate is tied to a market index (see Prime Rate below). As the index goes up or down, your interest rate and payments will also change at each scheduled adjustment period. “Rate caps” limit the amount your interest rate can change.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
A term representing the total cost of credit. The APR of a loan is the total finance charge, including interest and fees, expressed as a yearly rate.

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
The effective annual yield that reflects the total amount of interest paid on the account, based on the interest rate and frequency of compounding for a 365-day period and calculated according to the rules developed by the Federal Reserve Bank.

Automated Clearing House (ACH)
The automated clearing house (ACH) is an electronic funds transfer system. This nationwide network processes electronically originated credit and debit transfers such as direct deposit payroll payments and corporate payments to contractors and vendors.

Automatic Payment
With automatic payments you can have your monthly payment deducted from your checking or savings account to make payments on your Pacific Crest loan.

Bill Pay
An Online Banking service that offers the convenience and control of managing and paying bills online. With Pacific Crest’s Online Bill Pay, you can pay any company or individual in the U.S., schedule one-time, recurring payments and choose to receive electronic bills from selected billers.

Cashier’s Check
A check drawn on and issued by Pacific Crest Savings. A cashier’s check can be used instead of a personal check to guarantee that funds are available for payment.

Certificate of Deposit (CD)
Also called Time Deposit, this is a certificate issued by a financial institution that indicates a specific sum has been deposited. Our CDs bear a maturity date of up to five (5) years and a specified interest rate for that period of time.

Compounding Interest
Interest earned on previously earned interest as well as on the principal (the original amount deposited excluding any interest earned).

Credit Score
A score or rating given to a person by a credit bureau that helps a lender determine how likely you are to repay a new loan. To calculate your score, a credit reporting agency considers factors such as how you pay your bills, your outstanding debt, how long you’ve had credit, the types you’ve had and how many times you’ve applied for credit.

Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
Offering both traditional and Roth IRAs. Depending on the type of account, contributions may or may not be deducted from taxable income and earnings may not be taxed until disbursed, or in the case of Roth IRA may be tax-free.

Penalty for Early Withdrawal
Certificates of Deposit have a penalty when a withdrawal occurs before the specified maturity date. The penalty varies by the term of the CD. A 6 month to 1 year CD has a penalty of 90 days interest on the principal amount withdrawn. A CD of over 1 year and up to and including 3 years has a penalty of 180 days interest on the principal amount withdrawn. A CD with a term of 4 to 5 years carries a penalty of 365 days interest on the principal amount withdrawn.

Pre-Payment Penalty
A fee charged to a borrower who pays off a loan before it is due or 20% of its outstanding balance in a 12-month period if they chose the pre-payment option at closing.

Prime Rate
The most favorable interest rate charged by lenders to qualified customers. Pacific Crest uses the Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal.

Remote Deposit Capture
A service which allows a user to scan checks and transmit the scanned images to Pacific Crest for posting and clearing. The basic requirements for an RDC service currently include a PC, an internet connection, a check scanner and a business account with Pacific Crest Savings Bank. Checks you receive can be scanned to create a digital deposit. This digital deposit is then transmitted (over an encrypted internet connection) to Pacific Crest Savings Bank, who then accepts the deposit, posts the deposit to your account and assigns availability based upon the items deposited.

Term of Deposit
The contractual maturity or length of time funds must remain on deposit.

Wire Transfer
A wire transfer is a method of electronic funds transfer from one person or institution (entity) to another. The Federal Reserve Bank provides the Fedwire Funds Service, a real-time gross settlement system that enables participants to initiate funds transfer that are immediate, final, and irrevocable once processed. Funds transfers are originated by instructing Pacific Crest Savings Bank to debit funds from an account and credit funds to the account of another institution.