Security

The safety of your personal financial information couldn’t be more important. Keep in mind that when you shop online or use email or even social media, you could be vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. To make sure you’re not exposing yourself to unnecessary risk, be sure to:

• Be careful with email
• Shop safely
• Protect your computer

Review our FAQ about online safety for more information.

Keep the following tips in mind when banking at any ATM.

• Plan ahead to minimize your time at an ATM. Have your card out and ready to use when approaching an ATM.
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings and consider having someone accompany you when using an ATM, especially at night.
• When you enter or leave an ATM in an enclosed area, close the door completely. Never open the door to allow anyone else to enter while you are using the ATM.
• If others are nearby, block their view of the keypad with your hand or body while entering your PIN. Do not write your PIN on your card or disclose it to anyone else.
• Do not accept assistance from anyone you do not know or allow them to use your card.
• Refrain from displaying cash. Place your cash, card and receipt in a pocket or other secure location before leaving the ATM area. Count the cash later in a safe location such as your car or home. Be sure to take your ATM receipt with you.
• When using a drive-up ATM, be sure your passenger windows are closed and your doors are locked.

Whether you’re shopping online from home or on the road, there are some steps you can take so you don’t become a victim of credit card fraud.

• Sign your card immediately when you receive it.
• Report a lost or stolen card immediately.
• Notify the card issuer in advance if you have an address change.
• Do not give your cards to anyone.
• Keep your PIN secure, and do not keep it with the card.
• For online shopping, purchase only from reputable companies. Be sure the web page is secure. Look on the page for a notice indicating that area of the website is encrypted.
• Avoid saving credit card numbers and other personal information to retail shopping sites.
• Never include your credit card number in an email or text message.
• Review your credit card statement carefully – and often – to spot unfamiliar charges.
• Never give your credit card information to someone you do not know, by phone or computer.

Review our FAQ for more tips to avoid credit card fraud.

Here are some valuable tips to help you protect your good name, especially while you’re in the U.S.

• Guard personal information: Never keep your Social Security card or other personal information in your purse or wallet, and limit the number of credit or debit cards you carry with you.
• Control incoming and outgoing mail: Ask the post office to hold your mail if you’re going to be away from home, and pick up your incoming mail promptly.
• Use unique passwords: Avoid using words or numbers that can be easily accessed, such as maiden names or birthdates.
• Check your U.S. credit report at least once a year: Review your report from each of the three major U.S. credit reporting bureaus to make sure your accounts and transactions are accurate and are only the ones you have authorized.
• Consider purchasing ID theft protection services: Explore services that can regularly monitor your credit report, send alerts when suspicious activity occurs, and offer recovery assistance if your identity is stolen.

Review our FAQ for more tips to protect against identify theft.

We diligently work to maintain our online security to the highest possible standards. Controls that we use across our online infrastructure include:

• Robust and multi-layered security of servers and applications
• Multiple layers of internal and external firewalls, which protect our online environments
• Regular reviews of our security practices and technology updates
• Regular reviews to ensure our security and privacy policies and standards reflect our industry leading position
• Use of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) 128-bit encryption to protect the information you send or receive from our secure sites
• Use of encrypted password log-ons to RBC secure websites to help safeguard against unauthorized access to your accounts
• Automatic session terminations when extended inactivity is detected. This helps to protect your accounts if you are called away from your computer

We believe that working together is the best way to safeguard against financial fraud. We have a team of dedicated fraud experts working 24/7 to prevent, detect and investigate fraud and we work closely with industry associations, government and law enforcement. We invest in emerging and new technologies and maintain rigorous security procedures to ensure that you can enjoy doing business with us in a safe and secure environment.

• We build fraud prevention measures into our due diligence process and regularly upgrade our fraud detection/prevention systems.
• Fraud detection and prevention activities are part of our normal business activities.
• Although technologies can make it easier for fraud to occur, we employ around the clock sophisticated monitoring systems and controls to detect and prevent fraudulent activity.
• We may proactively contact you directly or via automated call to alert you or to confirm the legitimacy of certain account transactions. You can identify yourself and access an alert delivered via an automated call using your postal code or date of birth. If you feel uncomfortable with automated call authentication, discontinue the call and call us back using a published telephone number or the caller display number that you have independently verified as valid, prior to providing any information.

At RBC Bank, our team of fraud experts works 24/7 to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud. If you suspect you’ve become a victim of identity theft or fraudulent account activity, it’s important to act quickly.

Review our FAQ for a complete list of steps to take if you need to report fraudulent activity.

If you hold an RBC Premium Checking account, Deluxe Provent® Identity Theft Restoration Services are included at no additional charge. This service gives you guidance and assistance in restoring your good name, should you become a victim of fraud. If your identity or personal information is stolen, Deluxe immediately connects you with an expert resolution specialist ready to work hand-in-hand with you to:

• Report and cancel all missing or stolen credit and debit cards to creditors
• Place fraud alerts with all three major U.S. credit reporting agencies
• Advise all banks where you hold accounts and close any account that could be compromised
• Contact check verification companies and advise them not to accept checks from affected accounts
• File a police report
• Complete an online complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission
• Request and review your credit reports from each of the three credit bureaus.
• Report a stolen driver license or vehicle registration to the state’s department of motor vehicles
• Report a lost or stolen Social Security card or number to the U.S. Social Security Administration

We keep you updated

Once the identity theft has been reported, we’ll monitor and update your case weekly until all fraudulent activity has been removed from your credit report. If we determine that the circumstances of your case put you at a higher risk of further identity theft events, we’ll put preventive measures in place – all at no charge to you.

If you think a transaction has been posted to your account in error, call us at 1-800-769-2553 to begin an investigation.

Keep in mind, there are time limits to report transaction errors:

Electronic Funds Transfer Disputes

• Lost or stolen cards – You must notify us within two business days after you learn of the loss or theft.
• Transaction errors – If you identify a transaction error (unauthorized, incorrect amount, merchant errors) on your statement, we must hear from you no later than 60 days after we send you the FIRST statement on which the problem appears.

Remittance Transfer Disputes

The Bank considers the notice of a remittance transfer error timely if it is received orally or in writing within 180 days after the disclosed date of availability of the remittance transfer. When a notice of a remittance transfer error is based on documentation, additional information or clarification that the customer previously requested, the customer’s notice of error is timely if received by the Bank the later of 180 days after the disclosed date of availability of the remittance transfer or 60 days after the Bank sent the documentation, information or clarification that had been requested.

To learn what U.S. consumer protection laws cover electronic transactions, read our FAQ.