Be smart and play your part for safer banking

Media Release
9 February 2016

Be smart and play your part for safer banking

The New Zealand Bankers’ Association (NZBA) is encouraging people of all ages to be vigilant in protecting their personal information and finances as part of New Zealand’s Safer Internet Day (9 February 2016). The event, coordinated by NetSafe, promotes the safe and positive use of the internet and digital technologies, especially among children and young people.

“New Zealand has advanced digital banking technology, which means most of us are quite comfortable doing our banking online or using an app to pay bills, transfer money or monitor our accounts,” said Antony Buick-Constable, acting chief executive of the New Zealand Banker’s Association. “However, we each still have a responsibility to ensure that we keep our personal information safe, and that we get into good habits to protect and manage our money.”

“For young people, having a bank account provides an opportunity to learn to save, budget, and manage their money responsibly. It’s also an opportunity for them to develop safe banking habits, whether internet banking or using an eftpos card, and to be aware of what they need to do to help protect their personal information and online safety. This can assist them to become security savvy in all their online activities, as well as being smart savers,” said Buick-Constable.

Top tips to help keep your personal information and finances safe
Scammers don’t discriminate. Whether you’re a young person or an adult, it’s important to protect yourself when you are using an eftpos or credit card, or banking online or on your app. Get into good habits and follow these tips to help maintain your online safety and security:
• Guard your card. Treat it like cash. Make sure you know where your card is at all times. Never share your card, PIN or account login details with anyone.
• Log on to internet banking by typing in your bank’s full web address. Do not use links in emails or texts that appears to take you to your bank’s website.
• Check you have a secure connection, which is shown by a padlock symbol somewhere on the page, and that the website address starts with ‘https://’. The ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’.
• Avoid public computers and public Wi-Fi for internet banking, e.g. internet cafes, libraries or hotels.
• Protect your identity information and only provide it to trusted people and organisations. This includes your date of birth, address, driver licence number and passport details.
• Keep your anti-virus and firewall software up to date.
• Check your statements. Advise your bank immediately of any unauthorised transactions.

If you use your mobile devices for banking:
• Only download apps from trusted sources. Keep device operating systems up to date, and update apps when prompted. If available, use anti-virus software.
• Use your phone’s password lock feature, and always shield your phone and banking passwords from people around you.
• Contact your bank immediately if you lose your phone or it is stolen.

Find out more about Safer Internet Day at https://www.netsafe.org.nz/safer-internet-day/
For more information about bank accounts for children and young people talk to your bank.

ENDS

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