Updates

Consumer Alert

We would like to make all of our customers aware of a growing industry wide scam in the area of Official Bank Checks. Counterfeit checks that look like official cashier's checks, money orders or teller's checks are becoming easier for scammers to make using personal computers.

The following are some examples of how counterfeit check scams are originated:

• The counterfeit may be sent as a payment for an item you advertised for sale. This is particularly true for items sold over the Internet.
• The counterfeit check may be sent in connection with a lottery or prize winnings for a contest that you never entered.
• The counterfeit may be sent as a payment for a “work at home” job.

Usually, the payor is from a foreign country and the amount of the check received may be more than the original amount agreed upon. The payor will provide you with a reason why the excess amount was included in the check and ask that you return the overpayment to them as soon as possible. It is important to realize that once you endorse, deposit or cash the check, you become responsible for the funds. You should not assume that just because the bank has made the funds "available" that the check has cleared.

If at a later date, the check is determined to be a counterfeit, you will be asked to reimburse the bank the entire amount of the check.

PROTECT YOURSELF

If you receive a check and you are concerned about it’s legitimacy, we encourage you to bring the check in to one of our branch managers. We will assist you in determining if the check is valid.

Do not withdraw cash or write checks against the deposited funds until the check has officially cleared. If the check is payment for an item, you may want to wait to deliver the item until the check clears.

Please feel free to contact any of our branch associates if you should have any questions or concerns.

Protecting Yourself Against Email Fraud

Internet "phishing" scams are one of the fastest-growing frauds today. Phishing typically involves a bogus email message that uses legitimate materials, such as a company's Web site graphics and logos, in an attempt to entice email recipients to provide personal financial details, such as credit card and Social Security numbers.

Here's how you can keep your guard up and help fight back against this form of fraud:

Take Some Precautions

• Never respond to an unsolicited e-mail that is requesting detailed financial information.
• Report anything suspicious to the proper authorities.
• You can also contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ifccfbi.gov - which is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, if you think you have received a phishing email or have been directed to a "phishy-looking" website.

Stop, Look and Call

The Department of Justice advises e-mail users to "stop, look and call" if they receive a suspicious email.

• Stop – Do not immediately respond to a suspicious email.
• Look – Read the text of the email several times and question why the information requested would be needed.
• Call - Telephone the organization identified, using a number you know to be legitimate.

If You Have Been "Phished"

If you think you have provided financial information about yourself through a phishing scam, you should:

• Contact your financial institution
• Contact the three major credit bureaus and request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit report. The credit bureaus and phone numbers are as follows:
  • Equifax 1-800-525-6285
  • Experian 1-888-397-3742
  • TransUnion 1-800-680-7289
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-382-4357.

Online Banking Safety Tips

The Online Banking service has several effective security techniques that we encourage you to implement when you use the Online Banking service.

• Never reveal your password to anyone or leave your password anywhere that someone else can obtain and use it. If you feel that your password has been compromised contact our Online Banking Department immediately at (201) 444-7100 for assistance.
• Change your password on a regular basis.
• Make you password at least 6 characters in length and be a combination of numbers and letters.
• Use the exit button to end each Online Banking session. Do not use the Back button to exit the site.
• Change your session timeout in User Options to a time that meets your needs.
• Balance your account on a regular basis. Online Banking makes it easy!
• ASB will NEVER ask for personal information via an email. If you should receive an email that appears to be from ASB asking for this information, please do not respond to the email but contact us immediately at (201) 444-7100

Important Browser Information

As of October 7, 2003 we now require all browsers to support 128-bit encryption.

We highly recommend that you regularly upgrade/update your browser to the latest version.
Recommended browsers include: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, Mozilla Firefox 1+, Netscape 7+, or Safari 1.2+ (for MAC users).

How do I know if my browser supports 128-bit encryption?

To determine if your browser supports 128-bit encryption, click on "Help" in the toolbar of your Internet browser and click on "About [browser name]". A pop-up box or window will display. For Internet Explorer - Next to "Cipher strength" you should see "128-bit". For Netscape - the following text should appear: "This version supports high-grade (128-bit) security with RSA Public Key Cryptography". If your browser does not support 128-bit encryption, you will need to upgrade to a browser that does in order to continue to access secure pages of the website. Recommended browsers include: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, Mozilla Firefox 1+, Netscape 7+, or Safari 1.2+ (for MAC users).

Can I upgrade the encryption level of my browser without updating the browser version?

That depends on the browser and version you are currently using. Netscape browser versions earlier than 6 do not have a 128-bit encryption only upgrade. You must perform a full upgrade to a version of Netscape that supports 128-bit encryption and then specifically request the higher level of encryption. While our website is not certified with Netscape 6 and 7, these browser versions may work and allow you to download the SmartUpdate Plugin, which will update the browser to 128-bit encryption without upgrading to a new browser version. If you are using Internet Explorer 3 or earlier, you must perform a full upgrade to Internet Explorer Version 5 with 128-bit encryption. If you are using Internet Explorer 4 or later, you may perform a partial 128-bit encryption only upgrade by following the instructions to upgrade below. AOL uses the Internet Explorer browser and is subject to the same conditions as Internet Explorer.

What do I need to do to upgrade?

Internet Explorer

In Internet Explorer, click on Help and select About Internet Explorer. The window that pops up should say "Cipher strength: 128-bit". If it does not, clicking on "Update Information" will take you to the link below, which contains instructions for upgrading Internet Explorer:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/recommended/128bit/default.asp.
If you are running Windows 2000, you can access this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/recommended/encryption/download.asp.
The upgrade is simple and fairly quick. You will be required to restart your computer.

Netscape (version 4.78 and below)

Verify your cipher strength, as some versions of 4.7 do not support 128-bit encryption. If the version you are using does not support it, download an updated version by clicking on the following link and following the instructions:
http://browser.netscape.com/ns8
You can also reference this link to archived Netscape product releases:
http://wp.netscape.com/download/archive.html

Netscape (version 6 and higher)

Download the SmartUpdate Plugin by clicking on the following link and following the instructions:
http://cgi.netscape.com/cgi-bin/su/intro.cgi.

Skip To...

• Consumer Alert
• Protecting Yourself Against Fraud
• Online Banking Safety Tips
• Important Browser Information