Protect your deposit slips and checkbook. Never give anyone a deposit slip or bank check. Your deposit slip contains your account number and should never be used as a way to give someone your address and phone number. Never tell anyone your account number other than for legitimate business reasons. Your account number could allow someone access to your account.
Protect your bank statements. Either keep them or destroy them. Don't put them in the trash where someone might retrieve them later.
Never give out information about your bank account by telephone. Your bank will not call by phone to ask for information of this kind.
Exercise caution when going to and from your bank lobby. Stay alert and don't loiter. Don't openly carry cash or checks. Keep them concealed in your purse or pocket. Be cautious of strangers.
If you are victimized near your bank or on bank property, report it to the bank as well as to police.
Have Social Security checks and other regularly recurring checks deposited directly into your bank account. Most banks are able to accept Social Security checks directly from the Social Security Administration. Check with your bank to determine what kinds of checks it will accept by direct deposit.
Check with your employer about having your payroll check deposited directly in your bank.
Use a safe deposit box to store valuable items such as jewelry and important documents like the title to your car. This provides protection against damage from fires and floods as well as from theft. The cost of a safe deposit box is usually only a few dollars a month.
Call you bank immediately if your checkbook is lost or stolen. Have your account number written down and stored in a safe place. Be prepared to give your bank the account number, the check number and amount of the last check you wrote, and to whom it was written. Your bank will then tell you what procedures to follow in order to protect your account. Don't delay re-ordering a missing checkbook.