Security refers to preventing unauthorized access to a computer system or network. Internet Banking uses several layers of technology to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to the internal network. Internet Banking's security professionals manage a sophisticated networking architecture that includes screening routers, filtering routers, and firewalls.
Internet Banking is our term for accessing your account information over the Internet. Your financial institution may refer to it as Internet Account Access or use a different name.
Internet Banking uses software from Netscape® Communications that incorporate full data encryption to ensure the security and privacy of transactions. This encryption technology is so secure that it is classified by the U.S. Department of Defense. United States law forbids export of this technology to other countries. As a further security measure, Internet Banking utilizes its Internet server as a firewall, thereby preventing customer data from being directly accessed via the Internet.
The Internet Banking section is automatically secured/encrypted, but the rest of the Web site can be accessed as either secure or unsecure. To see at a glance if a session is secure:
If using Microsoft® Internet Explorer, and the image of a lock is displayed, the lock indicates the site is secure.
WARNING: If the icon appears as a picture of a broken key or a broken lock, encryption is not in use and the current session is not secure.
To ensure security, we recommend the following:
Never reveal your password**.
**Password refers to your telephone access (audio response system, not Bill Payment) password or the password that you selected when you signed up for Internet Banking. Your financial institution may use a different name. If you have questions about which number to use to access Internet Banking for the first time, contact your financial institution.
IMPORTANT: Some browsers allow you to enable a function to require passwords for specific sites or certifications. In that instance, you should enter the password for the browser.
Passwords are case sensitive. Mixing uppercase and lowercase letters is permitted.
You can change your Internet Banking password under User Options at any time. It is recommended that you change your password every six months.
WARNING: Financial institutions do not have access to your password. In the case of a forgotten password, contact your financial institution and ask them to reset your Internet Account Access for Internet Banking.
Use the Sign Off icon to end a Internet Banking session. This will expire all the cookies that were set in your session. Do not use the Back key.
IMPORTANT: If you do not exit the browser, the browser will allow you to use the Back key to get back into your Internet Banking session should you wish to explore another site.
The amount of time you can remain inactive before being automatically logged out of Internet Banking can be set under User Options.
WARNING: For your own security, keep this time setting as short as possible.
It is recommended that you balance your account at least once a month so that any discrepancies can be reported in a timely manner.
Recommended Operating Systems
Internet Banking is optimized to use with certified/recommended operating systems. By using a different operating system, you may not be able to take full advantage of all the features within Internet Banking. Click here for a list of recommended browsers.
In Netscape®:
In Microsoft® Internet Explorer:
In America Online's Web Browser:
Cookies are small text files on your system, used to keep track of settings or data for a particular site. Web sites can use cookies to identify a returning user or to pass information between web pages in a single visit.
There are two types of cookies: temporary and permanent. Temporary cookies are used and tracked by the browser to pass information and are deleted once the browser is shut down. Permanent cookies are stored on your system and can be accessed again for multiple visits. Permanent cookies usually have an expiration date and will be automatically deleted from your system at that time. Internet Banking only uses temporary cookies and never passes private information through cookies.
An example of how Internet Banking uses a temporary cookie is in the demo. The browser uses the cookie to either show or hide the overview depending on the user's choice. Every time the demo is used, that cookie will be used and deleted once the demo is exited or the browser is shut down.
Internet Banking also uses a different kind of temporary cookie known as a session cookie, a non-persistent cookie, or a pre-expired cookie. This cookie is used as part of the stringent security measures in Internet Banking to make sure that each page in Internet Banking is not cached or saved on your system. This means that each page must be retrieved from the web server. This cookie is deleted when a user logs or times out of Internet Banking or if the browser window is closed and ensures that another user on the same computer cannot access the previous user's Internet Banking session or information.
JavaScript is a widely accepted, simple programming language that allows a web site to be more interactive. Web sites can use JavaScript to perform many actions such has calculations, displaying dynamic navigation, and rotating through banner images. By using JavaScript, web sites can be pro-active by making a better internet experience.
An example use of JavaScript in Internet Banking is form validation. Validation is simply enforcing certain rules on different fields. When presented with a phone number field, JavaScript can alert the user if the phone number format is incorrect or if a value in the field is not a number. This allows the form to be filled out and submitted correctly the first time.
If JavaScript is not enabled, some or all of the Internet Banking features may not work. In most browsers, JavaScript is enabled through the adjustment in Security Settings. Please refer to the specific section for your browser by clicking on the link located in the index at the top of the page.
Before initiating your Internet Banking, we first require that a "secure session" is established using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. This is a process where the information between our server and your browser is encrypted or scrambled so it cannot be read by unauthorized parties. There are two general indicators that you have entered a secure session. Check for an unbroken key or locked padlock icon on the bottom of your browser screen. Also, when the URL (web page address) in the address bar starts with "https" (note the "s" at the end) rather than "http", your session is secure.
The content of a Web site is created to be best viewed in a range of display sizes or screen resolutions. The display size maximum is determined by your monitor's maximum display area (by maximizing your browser window) and the display size minimum is user controlled by resizing the window to be smaller then the maximum area allowed.
By viewing a Web site at or above the recommended display size or screen resolution all the Web site content can be seen without scrolling left to right. Each Web site will vary with their recommended display size or screen resolution, but the most recommended browser display sizes are 800 width by 600 height (800 x 600) or 1024 width by 768 height (1024 x 768).
Your monitor's display size, sometimes referred to as the desktop area is a setting controlled by your Operating System. Please refer to your Operating System documentation on how to determine and change your display size.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free browser plug-in that can read certain document file types known as PDF (portable document format). Having this plug-in allows you to read a PDF file from your browser window rather than having to open the Adobe Acrobat program to read the file. If you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, click here and follow the directions on Adobe's Web site.
Internet Banking most commonly uses PDF files for Online Statements and Check Images.
Recommended Browsers
Our site is optimized for use with certified/recommended browsers. If you use a different browser, you may not be able to take full advantage of all the features of the site.
Be sure to select a supported version when downloading at the following locations:
Microsoft© Internet Explorer Download:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp
America Online© Download:
http://www.aol.com or AOL Keyword: upgrade
Mozilla Firefox Download:
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox
Safari Download:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads
Browser Settings
Cookies
Security
Deleting All Temporary Internet Files:
Deleting Cookies Only:
America Online v8.0 & v9.0 (NOTE: The built-in AOL browser appears to be a version of an IE browser. In that case, some things (e.g. deleting cookies, etc.) could be accomplished the same way as done with IE browsers.)
AOL Auto-Fix (NOTE: Users must be signed on to their PC as a System Administrator in order to do this.)
Browser Settings: (This is done from your Desktop, not inside the AOL browser)
Block pop-up windows:
Because AIB uses popup windows (e.g. Printer Friendly window, etc.), we recommend that "Pop-up windows" be allowed.
Alternatively, Users who like to block pop-up windows could have this feature on, PROVIDED that they add their FI's
domain to the list of allowed sites.
Browser Settings
Deleting Cache
Deleting Cookies
Browser Settings:
Deleting the Cache: (a.k.a. Temporary Internet Files)
Deleting Cookies Only:
Preferences:
Deleting the Cache: (a.k.a. Temporary Internet Files)
Deleting Cookies Only:
Block pop-up windows:
* It is recommended that "Block pop-up windows" be turned OFF because Internet Banking utilizes pop-up windows (e.g. Printer Friendly window, etc.).
NOTE: Block pop-up windows can also be turned on/off from the Safari menu.
If you can view the other areas of our Web site, but are unable to access Internet Banking, it may indicate a problem accessing all secured Web sites. Both your browser and Internet service provider must support secured sites. This Web site is designed for Netscape® 7.2 or Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.0 or Mozilla Firefox 1.0 or Safari 1.2 for Macintosh. Using other browsers may cause the Web pages to appear misaligned and prevent access to Internet Banking.
IMPORTANT: It is highly recommended that the newer browsers be used to access Internet Banking.
If you are using one of the browsers mentioned above and are still experiencing a problem, the problem may lie with the Internet service provider. This is particularly common with employer-based access to the Internet. Your employer may have firewalls, proxy servers, or other equipment that may prevent access to secured sites. Contact your company's Data Processing Department regarding the problem or try to access Internet Banking from another location.
IMPORTANT: When reporting problems to your financial institution, have as much information ready as possible (e.g., browser version, etc.).
Receiving the following message after logging in successfully will stop all further processing and/or access to any portion of Internet Banking during this session: "Internet Account Access Session Error." Return to the log-in screen to start a new session. This error indicates that you did not accept one or more cookies. In order to enter the secured encrypted site you must accept the cookies. Since there are several within Internet Account Access, it is suggested that you disable the cookie alert within your browser while viewing account information.
IMPORTANT: If you are prompted with a dialog box that asks you to re-enter your password, (after initially entering your User ID and Internet Banking password), your browser may not support JavaScriptTM, or JavaScriptTM may not be enabled. An upgrade to Netscape® 7.2 or Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.0 may be necessary.
Go to Microsoft's Web site to download Internet Explorer or to Netscape's Web site to download Communicator. If you already have one of these browsers, the "Enable JavaScript" function may be disabled.
To enable JavaScriptTM in Netscape® Communicator 7.2:
To enable JavaScriptTM in Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.0:
To enable JavaScriptTM in America Online:
To enable JavaScriptTM in Safari 1.2:
To enable JavaScriptTM in Mozilla Firefox 1.0:
Internet Explorer Content Advisor
End Users that have Content Advisor enabled in Internet Explorer will require some changes that need to be made in order to use Internet Banking.
Additional Third Party Software (TPV)
Due to increased security, certain third party toolbars/software may prevent end user access into Internet Banking. This can also include some types of pop-up blockers. In order to log in to Internet Banking, this software may need to be disabled or uninstalled. Please refer to the third party vendor instructions for information on how to perform these steps.
Spyware/Adware
Due to increased security, certain spyware/adware may also prevent end user access into Internet Banking. In order to log in to Internet Banking, end users must remove this type of software from their computer.
Spyware is Internet jargon for advertising supported software (Adware). It is a way for shareware authors to make money from a product, other than by selling it to the users. Adware typically reports your Internet surfing habits back to a third party site for data collection purposes. In order to protect your financial privacy, it may be necessary to install a spyware/adware search tool to determine if your computer has any of this software installed. If you determine that adware or spyware has been installed on your computer, the software will need to be removed.
To search for help with Quicken, visit the Intuit web site at http://www.intuit.com/support/
To search for help with Microsoft Money, visit http://www.microsoft.com/money/.
If this does not remedy the problem, contact Customer Service.
Having difficulties viewing the test or not seeing the test results could be due to one or more of the following:
If you are still not able to view the test, please contact your financial institution for further help.
Error Messages - To show your financial institution the exact error message that you are receiving, display the error message on your screen then press ALT+Print Screen on your computer's keyboard. This will transfer the image to your clipboard. Open your Word Processor and paste the selection. You can save this file and e-mail it to your financial institution for support.
When experiencing an error message, try the following steps before contacting your financial institution:
When experiencing an error message, try the following steps before contacting your financial institution: