Online Banking Security and Privacy
Home Bank's online banking uses the latest technology to safeguard data. Multiple layers of advanced security tools including cryptography, firewalls, and computer registration are used to prevent tampering and ensure the privacy of your account information. This page will explain the security measures in place and options that you may choose to maximize the protection of your banking information and access to your accounts.
Encryption
Encryption of information renders data unreadable while in transit between the bank's server and your computer. Home Bank's website supports the highest level of encryption that your browser will provide using 128-bit encryption. This protects your data against identity thieves grabbing your information directly from internet transmission lines or wi-fi feed.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Something You Know
Before gaining access to account information, each individual is authenticated by a personal Access ID and Password. No one else will be able to access your accounts, because your password is known only to you. You will personally select your own 8 - 14 digit alphanumeric case-sensitive password. Our system supports strong passwords, meaning your password should contain at least one number, upper case letter, lower case letter, and special character. This kind of password is extremely hard to guess by identity thieves or by the software they use to help break password security.
Do not share your password with anyone, including friends and family members. Each family member may have their own online banking account with their own Access ID and password. Also, do not allow your browser to remember your password for online banking. This could expose your account if someone gains access to your computer.
Something You Have
Device Print is a security program used by the Home Bank online banking website to positively identify you before allowing access. When you register your computer at login, Device Print collects information about your computer such as IP address, CPU model, operating system, and browser version. When you log in again, Device Print checks whether you are using a previously registered computer. If your computer has not been previously registered, you will be required to undergo an authentication challenge before gaining access to your bank accounts.
The Home Bank website will place a "cookie" on your computer to help identify you to the website. This is a small file that our website uses to enhance your online banking experience. No personal information or passwords are ever stored in this file. Home Bank has a strict Privacy Policy that protects your personal information.
Commercial Banking Security
Additional security measures are offered for commercial banking to protect accounts subject to inherently more vulnerable transactions such as wire transfer and ACH. While the security measures introduce minor inconveniences for authorized users, they provide effective road blocks for would-be thieves.
Authentication tokens are devices that are issued by Home Bank to individual online banking users. These devices produce a one-time passcode, that when combined with the user's personal password, provides the best available authentication security that readily available technology will allow.
Home Bank customers that originate external funds transfers have the option to elect use of Dual Control to better secure their accounts. When Dual Control is enabled, each external transaction will require one user to set it up and another user to approve it before Home Bank will execute the transaction that will move funds out of the bank.
Re-Authentication protects against Session Hijacking. Once a user is logged in to online banking, the open session may be vulnerable to access by an unauthorized user either by physical presence at the logged-in computer, or by electronic take-over of the session by remote control of the browser used by the authorized user. Before an external funds transfer can be originated, the user will be asked to re-authenticate to ensure that the open session has not been taken over.
Mutual Authentication
Not only do you need to prove your identity when accessing your banking information, but you need to be assured that the website you are entering your access information into is the authentic Home Bank website. To help you with this, our online banking offers you the option of using an authentication image and personal phrase. You select the image and phrase, and they will appear on the online banking login page after you enter your Access ID. Before entering your password, just look and verify that these are your selections. Once this option is turned on, if you ever enter your Access ID and these selections do not appear, this would be a warning that you are not on the authentic Home Bank online banking login page.
This is important, because one way that identity thieves acquire personal information is by directing people to fraudulent websites that often look exactly like the authentic site they intended to visit. This redirection may happen by following a link in a fraudulent email (see Phishing) or by corruption of the routing servers on the internet. In either case, if you can positively identify your online banking site, you are empowered to protect yourself against this kind of tactic.
Layered Security
Additional security measures are in place behind the scenes at Home Bank. These measures are kept confidential to ensure maximum effectiveness against would-be thieves and fraudsters. Security of your bank accounts and personal information is our #1 priority at Home Bank.
Secure Electronic Messaging
Sometimes it is necessary to communicate sensitive personal information such as social security number or account number to a Home Bank banker. Email is a very convenient means of sending information, but it is also insecure. Faxing is also insecure. If you must transmit personal information, please call your banker or Home Bank Customer Care at 866-401-9440 for instructions on how to securely transmit that information to us. If information is needed for banking purposes, Home Bank will not solicit that information from you over the internet.
About Home Bank Customer Care Surveys:
To monitor and improve our service, you may receive survey emails from Home Bank seeking feedback about your banking experiences with us. Online surveys will be generic in nature; therefore, we will never ask you for sensitive personal account information such as bank account numbers, credit/debit card information, driver’s license information, Social Security numbers, employee identification numbers, PIN or passwords, or any other personal and confidential information. Click here to view our Privacy Policy.
Home Bank surveys are generated by our service provider partner, Customer Service Profiles. If you have questions or concerns regarding online security or the validity of Home Bank emails generated to you, contact Home Bank Customer Care at 866-401-9440 during normal business hours.