Security Tip: Equifax Cybersecurity Incident

Keeping an eye on your credit report is a smart thing to do at any time to make sure there is nothing there that should not be, because credit reporting companies directly influence your ability to get credit. You can request a free credit report once per year from each of the three major monitoring services, which essentially means you can check your credit report every four months. Find links or get more information.

You have probably heard about the recently announced Equifax data breach. If you have a credit history, it is possible you are affected, along with nearly half of all Americans. Equifax, one of the big three reporting companies, announced a major breach on September 7, where credit card numbers, social security numbers, driver’s licenses, and other information associated with your personal identity may have been taken.

Equifax will send direct mail notices to those whose credit card numbers or dispute records were accessed. They have also set up a website that will tell you if you were affected, as well as give you the option to sign up for a year of free credit monitoring. The offer includes identity theft insurance, internet scanning for social security numbers, and tips to protect your personal information. But before you sign up, be sure to read the fine print.

Find out more about the Equifax breach from CNN and visit the Federal Trade Commission for tips to protect your credit.

At this time we want to emphasize that this was not a breach of the Aquila Standard website or our Online Banking platform. However, we do want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to safeguard your personal data as much as possible.

Have a question? Please contact us at 718.952.1741.