At Western State Bank, protecting your accounts—and your peace of mind—is a responsibility we take seriously. Some of the safeguards we use may occasionally feel inconvenient or slow, but they exist for one reason: to protect you and your money.
Before explaining how we do that, it helps to understand the difference between fraud and scams.
Fraud vs. Scams: What's the Difference?
- Fraud occurs when someone gains access to your account through dishonest methods, and without your involvement.
- Scams involve someone tricking you into willingly sending money or sharing personal information.
Preventing Customer Scams
Scams rely on deception, urgency, and trust. Because they often involve customer participation, education and awareness are the strongest defenses.
Customer Education & Awareness
Western State Bank actively works to keep customers informed by providing:
- Scam and elder financial exploitation brochures in every banking center
- A dedicated Security Center on our website
- Timely social media alerts when scams are targeting our local communities
- Conversations with customers when something doesn’t feel right
Staff Training & Education
Our employees are trained to recognize scam tactics and warning signs—especially those targeting older adults.
These efforts include:
- Ongoing in-house training for frontline staff
- Offsite trainings and certifications for our Risk Management team
- Clear internal protocols for what to do if an employee suspects a customer may be involved in a scam
Sometimes, that means asking extra questions or slowing a transaction down. That pause can make all the difference.
Preventing Fraud
Unlike scams, fraud typically happens without a customer’s awareness and often involves checks, online access, or compromised credentials.
To combat this, Western State Bank invests in strong internal controls and modern security technology.
Internal Policies & Controls
Some protective measures may feel repetitive or inconvenient—but they are proven safeguards.
- Mobile deposit rules requiring specific endorsements
- Online account opening verification to confirm identities
- Wires & ACH controls with multi-step verification
- Deposit and payment holds when activity appears unusual
- Customer Identification Program (CIP) requirements for new accounts
Security Measures That Require Customer Participation
To keep accounts secure, customers may notice certain requirements when using digital services:
- Strong password creation standards
- Identity verification during password resets
- Multifactor authentication prompts (such as text codes)
- Debit card monitoring that may temporarily block suspicious transactions to prevent further loss
These steps help ensure that only you can access your accounts.
Tools Available to Help You Stay Secure
Online Banking & Mobile App
- Free online and mobile banking allow you to view transactions in real time. Reviewing activity regularly helps detect issues early—before additional damage occurs.
E-Statements
- Electronic statements reduce the risk of mail theft and protect sensitive personal information that appears on printed statements.
Online Bill Pay
- Online Bill Pay allows payments to be sent without sharing your account number. This reduces the risk of check fraud and mail theft, including check washing.
Your Security Comes First
If something feels inconvenient, it’s often because something could have gone wrong. Those extra steps are there to protect you.