Toss or Shred?
Free Shred Day will take place on Saturday, May 3 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at our Headquarters (3330 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266). For most people, the arrival of spring also means the arrival of spring cleaning. Looking at your stack of mail or your overflowing file cabinets, it can be […]
West Bank’s Shred Day is Back!
West Bank’s Shred Day is back! We will be hosting our free, secure Shred Day from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. We will have a mobile shred unit set up at the West Bank Headquarters located at 3330 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. What is Shred Day? As a […]
Generative AI Being Used to Commit Financial Fraud
On December 3, 2024, the FBI issued a warning on generative artificial intelligence (AI) being used to commit financial fraud. Criminals are using AI-generated text, images, audio, and videos to trick victims into sending money and providing sensitive information. The FBI shared the following tips to help protect yourself from AI-generated fraud: Create a secret […]
Get Ready for 2025 with 5 Online Safety Tips
With the new year right around the corner, you can start 2025 on the right foot by protecting your accounts and personal information with these five key online safety tips. 1. Use Multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible. MFA is an electronic security process that requires more than one method of identity verification to gain access […]
Debit Card Safety This Holiday Season
For a payment method that has been around since the late 1960s, debit cards have remained a trustworthy form of transacting for American consumers. According to the J.D. Power 2024 Debit Card Satisfaction Survey, 72% of customers say they use a debit card at the point of sale, as compared to cash, credit cards, and […]
Account Takeover Fraud
According to SEON’s Global Statistics in Account Takeover Fraud for 2023, 22% of US adults have fallen victim to account takeover fraud. As the population’s digital presence and online transactions continue to grow, the ways for criminals to find to hack into devices also continue to increase. What is account takeover fraud? As defined by […]
Elder Fraud Continues to Rise
Elder fraud abuse is increasingly prevalent, often more so than people realize. According to Nasdaq’s 2024 Global Financial Crime Report, one in 10 elderly Americans are victims of financial abuse. Of all global fraud in 2023, $77.7 billion was linked to elderly financial exploitation. In the United States alone, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center […]
Protect Your Business From Check Fraud
Whether you are a small business or serve thousands of customers a day, taking steps to fight check fraud is vital to keeping your organization safe. The Treasurer’s Guide to AR Payment Optimization estimates that 40% of all business-to-business (B2B) payments in the United States are made via check. As long as payments continue to […]
Consumer Check Fraud Safety
Over the past few years, check fraud has been on the rise, with an uptick in cases more recently. According to the Iowa Bankers Exchange, Suspicious Activity Reports for check fraud increased by 201.2% from 2018 to 2022. Nasdaq’s 2024 Global Financial Crime Report revealed that in 2023 alone, check fraud led to $21 billion […]
Loving Your Aging Family Member Well
Aging is a part of life, but it can be hard to watch your loved ones get older. One way you can walk alongside them is by watching for signs of elderly financial abuse. Elderly financial abuse is a crime that deprives older adults of their resources and independence by taking advantage of their finances […]