Important Customer Alerts

FDIC Insurance Information:

What amount of insurance coverage do I have for my accounts?
The FDIC Standard Maximum Deposit Insurance Amount (SMDIA) for deposits has been permanently increased to $250,000 per depositor per insured financial institution.

The following special rules apply to non-interesting bearing transaction accounts:

Starting January 1, 2013: The FDIC will no longer fully insure deposits in non-interest bearing transaction accounts (including IOLTAs). Funds in non-interest bearing transaction accounts (including IOLTAs) will be insured to at least $250,000 under the FDICs general deposit insurance rules.

FDIC Coverage Over Basic Insurance
The FDIC provides separate insurance coverage for deposit accounts held in different categories of ownership. It is possible to qualify for more than the current $250,000 in coverage at one insured bank if you own deposit accounts in different ownership categories. The ownership categories are (1) single, (2) joint, (3) revocable trust (informal revocable trusts such as Payable-on-death accounts and formal revocable trusts such as living/family trusts created for estate planning purposes), (4) irrevocable trusts, (5) certain retirement plans, (6) employee benefit plans, (7) business (corporation, partnership, unincorporated associations), and (8) government. For more information on coverage, visit fdic.gov .

Contact us immediately if you suspect fraud or identity theft on your accounts.

Notice: A major card processor, Global Payments, has announced a card breach. At this time, the impact is unknown and the Bank has not been provided notice that any of our cardholders' information has been compromised by this breach. However, cyber fraud and identity theft is a leading concern and there are steps that can be taken to mitigate fraudulent activity on your accounts. We encourage you to read all the information and links provided below for your education and identity protection.

Online security is our top priority. Here are current resources for your online banking awareness and education.

For Individuals:		Account Authentication & Online Banking Guidance
For Businesses:		Business Risk Assessment & Layered Security Guidance

For Individuals and Businesses: Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, and has ranked as one of the top consumer concerns for the past several years. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has produced a multimedia presentation to help consumers protect themselves from identity theft. The presentation provides information on steps consumers should take to secure their computer and protect themselves from identity theft, as well as actions consumers should take if they become a victim of identity theft.

Watch the video: Don't Be an On-line Victim: How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams

Please be aware of phishing schemes, phone scams, text messages and emails that may be fraudulent.

In an effort to protect your identity and your accounts, Santa Cruz County Bank will never email you asking for account information. If you receive an email asking for any non-public information, please contact us immediately.

Text Scam:
Please note that Santa Cruz County Bank does not send unsolicited text messages to our clients to request information. If you receive a text relating to your accounts with Santa Cruz County Bank, please disregard the message requesting you to call an 800 number and report this to us immediately by calling 831.457.5000.

Phone Scam:
If you receive a phone message from Santa Cruz County Bank requesting personal information, transaction information or account information, you can always verify with us the validity of the call by contacting us directly at 831.457.5000.

Email Scam:
The FDIC has issued the following Consumer Alert:
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports of a fraudulent e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The subject line of the e-mail states: "check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mail tells recipients that, "You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets." The e-mail then asks recipients to "visit the official FDIC website and perform the following steps to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage" (a fraudulent link is provided). It then instructs recipients to "download and open your personal FDIC Insurance File to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage." This e-mail and associated Web site are fraudulent. Recipients should consider the intent of this e-mail as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to on-line banking services or to conduct identity theft. The FDIC does not issue unsolicited e-mails to consumers. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT follow the link in the fraudulent e-mail.

Preventing Identity Theft:
Santa Cruz County Bank is pleased to provide you helpful information on how to protect yourself from Identity Theft. Click here to open a printable brochure.

Important Information for our Businesses and Individual Taxpayers:
As a reminder to our local business owners and individual taxpayers, the government issued a regulation that provides the Federal Tax Deposit coupons will no longer be accepted. The IRS recommends the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which is a free service from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. EFTPS is a convenient way to make federal tax payments online or by phone, 24/7. It's secure and easy to use. To enroll, visit eftps.gov or contact EFTPS Customer Service at 1-888-434-7338.

Foreclosure Information:
If you cannot afford your monthly mortgage payments and wish to avoid foreclosure, you may be eligible for a loan "workout" or modification. We determine eligibility for loan "workouts" on a case-bycase basis. Among other things, we will consider the value of your property and your ability (based on your current income) to make monthly mortgage payments in accordance with the "workout." You may also qualify to refinance your current loan with us, including a short term payment deferment.

If you are interested in exploring any of the options listed above, you will need to provide us with certain financial information, including the following: your most recent paystub, list of current monthly expenses, your most recent tax return, bank statements, a current valuation of your property, if available (such as an appraisal) and a written explanation detailing your need for a loan "workout" or modification.

If you would like to discuss your options to avoiding foreclosure with us, please call the Loan Administration Manager or Chief Credit Officer of Santa Cruz County Bank at 1-866-776-6807. You may also contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to find a HUD certified housing counseling agency by calling 1-800-569-4287. Additional information is made available by HUD on its website at http://www.hud.gov .

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