Financial Wellness
Message from the Board Chairman—October 2024
October is our annual issue of TowerLine dedicated to cybersecurity awareness, and we are proud once again to partner with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to promote Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Since its inception in 2004, Cybersecurity Awareness Month has grown into a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage actions by the public to reduce online risk, and generate discussion on cyber threats on a national and global scale.
Protecting the security of our members’ accounts is a top priority for Tower, not just in October, but year-round. We all must remain vigilant and do our part. The theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is “Secure Our World,” in recognition of the importance of taking daily action to reduce risks when we are online or connected to devices.
Below are four simple actions from CISA that we all can and should take now:
Recognize and report phishing. Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message.
Please note that Tower will never contact you asking for account information. Never give out your credentials, card number, or security code to anyone. If you are not sure a message or call is legitimate, do not reply, and contact us.
Use strong passwords. Strong passwords are long, random, unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts.
Turn on MFA. You need more than a password to protect your online accounts and enabling Multi-factor authentication makes you significantly less likely to get hacked. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media and financial accounts.
Update software. Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are not available.
This annual initiative is a good reminder that we all must do our part to protect our accounts, familiarize ourselves with scammers’ tactics and current scams, and to do all that we can to keep fraudsters from gaining access to our financial and sensitive information.
Please continue to use caution when receiving suspicious e-mails, texts, phone calls, or messages on social media, as fraud schemes are abundant and extremely clever. Always be wary if someone tells you to lie to your financial institution about your intentions. That is a major red flag, and a clear sign of a scam.
Let’s all work together to build a safer digital world. Take time to discuss these tips with family, friends, employees, and your community so we can all become safer online. For more helpful articles and tips, as well as the latest scam impacting Tower members, please visit our Fraud & Security Center.
And be sure to take advantage of our new member referral program, which puts money in your pocket for each new member you refer. Both you and the person you refer will each get $150! The referral program runs through the end of this year and you can earn up to $500. Plus, you’ll be giving your friend, relative, or colleague the benefits of lifetime Tower membership.
I especially want to show my appreciation for your patience when we implement new technologies and improve on our services for the benefit of our members, such as the recent Digital Banking conversion in July.
I’m happy to report that since conversion, over 90% of our previous Digital Banking users have logged into our new platform, and the response has been overwhelmingly favorable. Our new Digital Banking and mobile app have a more modern, streamlined appearance, designed to help you find the information you need faster and easier, with improved navigation, expanded and faster alerts, and new financial wellness tools. Since July, we have seen an uptick in new Digital Banking users, adding over 3,000 additional members who are now using our updated platform.
These upgrades are a temporary inconvenience for long-term gain, and your understanding during our improvements is greatly appreciated. Your volunteer Board of Directors along with the Senior Management team will continue to seek out opportunities to improve your member experience and keep your information secure.
Arland A. White, Jr.
Board Chairman
Since its inception in 2004, Cybersecurity Awareness Month has grown into a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage actions by the public to reduce online risk, and generate discussion on cyber threats on a national and global scale.
Protecting the security of our members’ accounts is a top priority for Tower, not just in October, but year-round. We all must remain vigilant and do our part. The theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is “Secure Our World,” in recognition of the importance of taking daily action to reduce risks when we are online or connected to devices.
4 steps you can take now
Every day we are more and more connected—whether messaging family and friends, shopping online, or posting on social media. It’s important for all of us to take steps to stay safe online when using our phones, laptops, or smart devices.Below are four simple actions from CISA that we all can and should take now:
Recognize and report phishing. Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message.
Please note that Tower will never contact you asking for account information. Never give out your credentials, card number, or security code to anyone. If you are not sure a message or call is legitimate, do not reply, and contact us.
Use strong passwords. Strong passwords are long, random, unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts.
Turn on MFA. You need more than a password to protect your online accounts and enabling Multi-factor authentication makes you significantly less likely to get hacked. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media and financial accounts.
Update software. Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are not available.
This annual initiative is a good reminder that we all must do our part to protect our accounts, familiarize ourselves with scammers’ tactics and current scams, and to do all that we can to keep fraudsters from gaining access to our financial and sensitive information.
Please continue to use caution when receiving suspicious e-mails, texts, phone calls, or messages on social media, as fraud schemes are abundant and extremely clever. Always be wary if someone tells you to lie to your financial institution about your intentions. That is a major red flag, and a clear sign of a scam.
Let’s all work together to build a safer digital world. Take time to discuss these tips with family, friends, employees, and your community so we can all become safer online. For more helpful articles and tips, as well as the latest scam impacting Tower members, please visit our Fraud & Security Center.
Share the gift of membership
With the holiday season swiftly approaching, in the spirit of giving, if you have family members or co-workers who are not yet Tower members, offer them the gift of credit union membership. Share your experience with Tower with them and invite them to join, so they too can be a part of the Tower family.And be sure to take advantage of our new member referral program, which puts money in your pocket for each new member you refer. Both you and the person you refer will each get $150! The referral program runs through the end of this year and you can earn up to $500. Plus, you’ll be giving your friend, relative, or colleague the benefits of lifetime Tower membership.
We are here for you
I would like to thank you for your trust and continued support of Tower. I encourage you to come to Tower first for all your financial needs. We are your credit union and we are here for you—from your first job to retirement and beyond.I especially want to show my appreciation for your patience when we implement new technologies and improve on our services for the benefit of our members, such as the recent Digital Banking conversion in July.
I’m happy to report that since conversion, over 90% of our previous Digital Banking users have logged into our new platform, and the response has been overwhelmingly favorable. Our new Digital Banking and mobile app have a more modern, streamlined appearance, designed to help you find the information you need faster and easier, with improved navigation, expanded and faster alerts, and new financial wellness tools. Since July, we have seen an uptick in new Digital Banking users, adding over 3,000 additional members who are now using our updated platform.
These upgrades are a temporary inconvenience for long-term gain, and your understanding during our improvements is greatly appreciated. Your volunteer Board of Directors along with the Senior Management team will continue to seek out opportunities to improve your member experience and keep your information secure.
Have an enjoyable holiday
On behalf of your volunteer Board of Directors, I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season, with extra time spent with your friends and loved ones.Arland A. White, Jr.
Board Chairman
Resources: Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Cyber Security Alliance