First Interstate, ABA Call on Clients to #PracticeSafeChecks

First Interstate Bank has joined the American Bankers Association (ABA) and banks across the nation to promote an industry-wide campaign educating consumers about the rapid rise in check fraud and how they can protect themselves.

Reports of check fraud have nearly doubled since 2021, according to a 2023 report from the Boston Fed, and those numbers continue to climb. The #PracticeSafeChecks campaign empowers consumers with tips and tools to help combat the significant threat posed by check fraud and check washing scams.

First Interstate will join forces with ABA to launch the campaign starting October 1 to mark the beginning of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Throughout the month First Interstate will share awareness messages and security tips on social media, through our financial education newsletter, and in special web article. Clients can also reach out to their trusted banking representatives for support materials and coaching.

The new campaign is a companion consumer protection initiative to ABA’s award-winning #BanksNeverAskThat anti-phishing campaign, which also relaunches October 1.

The #PracticeSafeChecks website, www.practicesafechecks.com, is the heart of the campaign and reminds consumers that every time they write a check, they are exposing their personal information, such as name, address and bank account number and encourages them to use digital banking options to send money whenever possible. The website offers the following airline-themed safety tips:

1. Use permanent gel pens. Just like wearing a seatbelt when you fly, use permanent ink when you write a check to protect yourself.

2. Avoid blank spaces. Make sure you fill out every blank space on a check so criminals can't fill them in instead.

3. Withhold personal information. The person in the middle seat doesn't need to know your whole life story, just like you don't need to add personal info to your checks.

4. Review accounts. Monitor your account activity online or in the First Interstate mobile app as attentively as you await a safe arrival message from a loved one. Regular reviews ensure you quickly notice anything out of the ordinary.

5. Check your checks. Regularly review your paid checks online and in our app. Ensure the indorsement is correct and reflects the intended payee and amount to guard against fraud.

6. Use digital payment options. Consider switching to online bill pay for fast and secure payments.

7. Follow up. Just as you confirm your flight details, make sure to follow up with payees to confirm they've received and deposited your check.

In addition, the #PracticeSafeChecks website covers where personal information gets exposed in checks, explains how criminals and scammers execute check fraud and offers an airline-themed, comprehensive #PracticeSafeChecks guide.

The campaign also features two new #PracticeSafeChecks videos designed to be fun and entertaining to engage consumers. One video offers a fun twist on airline safety checks and the other uses a giant check to emphasize the inconvenience and vulnerabilities of using checks.

To learn more about check fraud and check washing, visit www.practicesafechecks.com.