Safety and Security

Our online banking service has been designed with a number of levels of safeguards to help ensure the privacy of the sensitive data that travels through the Internet between your computer and your Credit Union.

Visitors to the Credit Union’s website normally access pages and files located on our regular web server. However, when you access the Co-Optima Connect online banking area of the site, your browser automatically establishes a secure connection with a separate web server that is dedicated to online banking activity only. This server is connected to the Internet through a firewall that protects the sensitive information on our host systems and prevents hackers from disrupting their operation.

To access any of the information provided by Co-Optima Connect, a user has first to sign-in to the system using their account number and a corresponding access code (or password). Your access code is known only to you and without it neither you nor anyone else can gain access to your records online. Each time you sign-in to Co-Optima Connect the system will display the date and time of your last sign-in so that you always have a record of your online banking activity.

Our service uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, 128-bit encryption keys and secure internet protocols to encrypt the data transmitted between your computer and our website, thereby preventing any other computers along the route from intercepting and eavesdropping on this information as it travels over the Internet.

The padlock symbol at the bottom right of your browser screen shows that this SSL encryption security is activated while you are using the service.

Our website’s encryption technology is authenticated by VeriSign Inc., the leading provider of security and certificate authority services for Internet communications and e-commerce.

Finally, the Credit Union supports this service by rigorous internal business processes that help ensure the confidentiality of your information. Stringent internal access procedures are in place and the systems are closely monitored and audited to help ensure that they remain secure from malicious attack or misuse.

Protect Your Privacy Online

As you use this online service, your account number and access code (password) are the “keys” to your financial records.

In the same way that you protect the physical keys to your own home and property, you should take every precaution to protect these online “keys” so that the security measures built into the service remain effective and no one else can gain access to your account.

We strongly recommend that you practice the following:

•	Keep your account number(s) and access code(s) secure; do not share them with anyone.
•	When you first register for Co-Optima Connect you will create (or be assigned) a temporary initial access code. You must change that access code right after signing-in to your account for the first time.
•	Your access code can be created using letters or digits or a combination of letters and digits. The access code can be between eight (8) and twenty (20) characters long.
•	Do not to use an access code that can be easily discovered, such as your credit union account number, bank account number, birth dates, ATM card numbers, telephone numbers, names of family or friends, and the like.
•	You should change your access code at regular intervals as a safety measure. You can change your access code yourself quite easily using the Other Options menu within Co-Optima Connect.
•	Change your access code immediately if you suspect that someone else is aware of it.
•	Never write down or record your account number and access code together in the same place.
•	While you are using the service, you should sign-out by clicking on End Session once you have (i) completed your transaction; (ii) completed managing your account; or (iii) decided to step away from your computer, if even for a short while. Remember that anyone who uses your computer after you have signed-in, but before you have signed-out, can access your records.
•	NEVER send in an e-mail message any confidential or personally-identifying information such as your access code, national identification number, social security number, credit card numbers, etc.
•	ALWAYS make sure that your personal computer has anti-virus software installed and keep it up-to-date.
•	Regularly update your computer system with the latest available security updates and patches.
•	REFRAIN from accessing this online banking service, or any similar e-commerce website, using public computers such as those in Internet cafes, kiosks, libraries, schools, etc.
•	Do NOT use a shared e-mail account for this service. Any e-mail communication between yourself and your credit union should be private and accessible only by you.