FDIC NEWS

The FDIC Issues Tips to Help Consumers Manage Their Money in Good Times and Bad
Timely Strategies in a Difficult Economy

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation today issued tips to help consumers spend less, save more, protect against fraud and borrow wisely at any time, but especially during a difficult economy. The advice was published as a special edition of the FDIC Consumer News (the Winter 2008/2009 issue) entitled "Managing Your Money in Good Times and Bad." The new publication can be read or printed at www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnwin0809. To order up to two free paper copies, consumers can use the online form on that same Web page or call the Federal Citizen Information Center toll-free at 1-888-8-PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256) weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time and ask for Department 92.

The FDIC encourages financial institutions, government agencies, consumer organizations, educators, the media and anyone else to help make the tips and information in FDIC Consumer News widely available. The publication may be reprinted in whole or in part without advance permission. Organizations also may link to or mention the FDIC Web site. See the Web site above for more details.

The goal of FDIC Consumer News is to deliver timely, reliable and innovative tips and information about financial matters, free of charge. Current and past issues of FDIC Consumer News, including previously published special editions, are online at www.fdic.gov/consumernews.

Please notify anyone else you think would be interested in reading FDIC Consumer News or learning about the FDIC’s other products and services for consumers. Others wishing to subscribe to this free online delivery service should follow instructions posted on the FDIC Web site at www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

New Deposit Insurance Limits.
The standard insurance amount of $250,000 per depositor is in effect through December 31, 2013. On January 1, 2014, the standard insurance amount will return to $100,000 per depositor for all account categories except IRAs and other certain retirement accounts, which will remain at $250,000 per depositor.

Southwest Capital Bank, N.A. is participating in the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee Program. Under that program, through December 31, 2009, all noninterest-bearing transaction accounts are fully guaranteed by the FDIC for the entire amount in the account. Coverage under the Transaction Account Guarantee Program is in addition to and separate from the coverage available under the FDIC’s general deposit insurance rules.

Protecting yourself against "Phishing," a type of online fraud.

What is Phishing?
Identity theft over the Internet is on the rise and “Phishing” is one form of fraud that attempts to obtain your personal information through the use of emails, websites, and popups. This type of fraud occurs when you receive an email that is sent as though the email is from a legitimate company. The email will request sensitive personal information by telling you to either supply the information in a popup window or by clicking on a web link that sends you to a counterfeit web site. Once the information is obtained the data may be unlawfully used against you to create transactions on your existing accounts.

How can I identify these fraudulent emails?
Keep in mind that Southwest Capital Bank will not send emails asking for customer information. Any such emails should be reported immediately as a fraudulent email.

Fraudulent emails will ask you for your confidential information.
These emails will appear as though your account information has expired and will ask you to update your account with current information as soon as possible. Some examples of this information may include user names, passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers, addresses, social security numbers, and phone numbers.

Fraudulent emails may appear to be from a genuine source.
Many “Phishing” emails are constructed as though the email appears to be from a legitimate email address. The email may contain actual company logos and be very professionally worded. The sender of the email can also easily manipulate the address of the email to make it look as though it is from a trusted source.

Fraudulent emails will also link to bogus Web sites.
Once a web link is clicked in the counterfeit email a phony website may be displayed that appears to be official. The website will then proceed to prompt you for your confidential information.

Fraudulent email may also contain bogus phone numbers.
Fake Phone numbers may be used to make the email or website appear as though it is legitimate. The email or website could also contain actual phone numbers of the company. The thought is that if the email contains a company phone number then the email must be legitimate. Look up the phone number in a phone book and call to verify the email.

What should I do if I find one of these emails?
Do not click on any of the links in the email. If you find an email that you believe to be fraudulent either call our customer service department at (239) 332-5115 or email info@swcapitalbank.com to report it.