Lost or Stolen Debit or Credit Card

Report your card immediately by calling one of the following numbers during or after business hours: 864-942-1524 or 800-726-8689.

Business Fraud & Identity Theft Protection

Since its founding in 1933, the privacy and safety of our customer’s financial information has remained one of Countybank's top priorities. We are committed to keeping you and your business informed about the most recent scams and identify theft schemes, while providing tips to help keep you financially safe.

Check Washing

What is check washing?

There has been a surge in fraudulent bank account activity, most recently in the form of altered or counterfeit checks. In many cases a form of fraud called “check washing” occurs where criminals steal checks from mailboxes and change the payee’s name on the check.

When you write a check and hand it to an individual or put it in the mail, there is always a risk because you are handing someone your routing and account information.

Mail theft and check fraud are currently a nationwide problem. Business clients are being targeted because they are perceived to have higher balances. The US Postal Service (USPS) has admitted that they are unable to control the check fraud that is occurring in the USPS. In response, they have released a warning, recommending people stop mailing checks.

If a check is lost or stolen, someone could do the following with your account information:

• Create their own check
• Change information on the check and deposit it at another financial institution
• Attempt to cash the check
• Create an ACH or set up your account to pay their bills

How to Prevent Check Washing

We recommended these best practices to help prevent check washing:

• Monitor your bank account(s) daily
• Immediately notify the bank of any discrepancies or fraudulent activity
• Pay your bills online
• Don't mail checks; deliver your mail to the post office
• Use a pen with blue or black non-erasable gel ink when filling out a check
• Use Countybank’s Positive Pay service

Fraud Prevention for Businesses

Countybank recommends limiting or eliminating check writing when possible. For businesses that need to issue checks, Countybank recommends its Fraud Prevention service, which matches the file you upload to checks posted against your account. Fraud Prevention cross-references the check amount, check number, and check date.

Payee Match Feature

Our Fraud Prevention service includes a payee match feature that allows for an extra layer of security. Businesses can upload their checks to the platform, and the payee match feature will cross-reference the payee on the file you upload to checks posted against your account.^*

*Countybank cannot take responsibility for any potential loss related to the payee match feature if you choose not to enroll in payee match.

Our fraud guide includes additional information on check washing, Fraud Prevention, and the payee match feature.

ACH Positive PAY

Prevent Unauthorized Transactions with ACH Positive Pay Help prevent unauthorized ACH transactions from your account with ACH Positive Pay. This feature allows business clients to set rules for ACH items, including company ID, SEC codes, debits, credits, or dollar amount. Notifications allow the business to determine whether to pay or return the ACH transaction. Contact your relationship manager if you are interested in enrolling in Positive Pay for checks, ACH, or to add the payee match feature. 

Resources

• Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business
• 6 Ways You Can Thwart Check Washers
• Check Washing Makes a Comeback; Here’s How to Protect Yourself
• USPS Information on Check Washing

ACH, Wires, and Remote Deposit Capture for Businesses

Countybank recognizes that writing checks is a necessity for some businesses. In these cases we recommend businesses use our ACH or wire processing services when possible in lieu of writing checks.

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ACH Best Practices

ACH processing is a safer more cost-effective payment option that gives businesses control of their account information. Checks, by contrast, can cost businesses on a per check basis, in addition to the time and risk of lost or stolen funds.

• Implement dual control processing for ACH. 
• Retain an agreement for each employee, vendor, or client that they direct deposit funds to. 
• Only establish direct draft if there is a true business need.
• Verify account information by phone if you receive requests to update information through email, fax, or other electronic means. Contact the individual using the phone number(s) on file, not the information provided in email, fax, etc.
• Verify all requests to send payment by phone call to the client, vendor, or employee. This is especially necessary when an unexpected request is received.

Wires Best Practices

• Send wire information in an encrypted email communication when communicating wire instructions to another individual. 
• Verify wire instructions by phone if you receive information through email, fax, or other electronic means. Contacting the client, vendor, or employee using the phone number(s) on file, not information provided in email, fax, etc.
• Process wires under dual control and set internal limits based on daily need and employee need.
• Know your customer, client, or vendor. If you don’t recognize an individual or company and aren’t expecting a request, contact your banker before processing the payment. Make sure it is a legitimate request, and verify the account information.

Remote Deposit Capture Best Practices

• All checks must be endorsed prior to being submitted using remote deposit capture.
• Retain all checks for 120–140 days after the check has been submitted through remote deposit capture and processed. Countybank may request the original check to aid in the clearing and collection process or to resolve claims by third parties.
• Retain all information related to the digitization of the check (created by the remote deposit capture) for 7 days. Countybank may request this information for research or resolution purposes.
• Use a commercially reasonable method to destroy checks after the retention period has expired. Countybank recommends using a cross-shredder. If clients use a shred company, ensure shred containers are locked and require dual control should they need to be accessed.

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Depositing Checks

Best Practices for You or Your Business

• Look for signs of a scam or indications the check is fake.
• Contact the bank that the check is drawn on and ask them to verify funds.
• Always ask for and verify identification when a customer pays by check.

What to Look For

• Where is the check from and/or who is the payee?
• Does the checking account have funds available?
• Does the check show signs of being a fake document?
• Does the person who gave the check to you routinely bounce checks?

How To Spot a Fake Check

• Do not accept checks sent via email, which is a common scam. Countybank does not accept computer screenshots of checks for deposit.
• Make sure the check is issued by a legitimate bank and doesn’t have a fake bank name. If the check includes the bank’s phone number and address, verify the information is correct.
• Look for check security features, such as microprinting on the signature line, a security screen on the back of the check, and the words “original document” on the back of the check.
• Review the check amount. Scammers often write checks for more than the original amount than was intended.
• Make sure there aren’t any smudges or discoloration on the check, which can indicate the check was altered.

Additional Resources

• How to avoid becoming a money mule
• Visit our financial literacy center to learn more about money, banking, and identity theft prevention.