FDIC Notice
NOTICE OF CHANGES IN TEMPORARY FDIC INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TRANSACTION ACCOUNTS
All funds in a "noninterest-bearing transaction account" are insured in full by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from December 31, 2010, through December 31, 2012. This temporary unlimited coverage is in addition to, and separate from, the coverage of at least $250,000 available to depositors under the FDIC's general deposit insurance rules.
The term "noninterest-bearing transaction account" includes a traditional checking account or demand deposit account on which the insured depository institution pays no interest. It also includes Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts ("IOLTAs"). It does not include other accounts, such as traditional checking or demand deposit accounts that may earn interest, NOW accounts and money-market deposit accounts.
For more information about temporary FDIC insurance coverage of transaction accounts, visit www.fdic.gov.
giantbank.com is serious about security. Not only are your deposits FDIC-insured, your account and personal information is safeguarded by multiple security layers. giantbank.com has joined with Best-of-Breed partners to employ security layers featuring firewalls, hardware, software and security policies to accomplish a single mission:
Keep your information safe.
Click here to read about giantbank.com's "Two-Factor" Enhanced Online Banking security!
We're also serious about our customers' privacy. We will not provide your account information to any party that is not essential to the safe and sound maintenance of your account relationship. Just click here to read the giantbank.com Privacy Policy.
We won't rest on our laurels, either. We are constantly evaluating, testing and strengthening our security infrastructure to stay ahead of emerging security threats.
Prevent Identity Theft!
The number of people victimized by Identity Theft continues to increase. Click here for ways to keep your identity safe and steps to take in the event that you become an Identity Theft victim.
For information regarding our security measures - and to learn how you can help ensure the security of your account - please review:
Providing a Safe Online Banking Environment
Frequently Asked Questions
Security Definitions
Providing a Safe Online Banking Environment
Browser Encryption
To process transaction`s and access any of your giantbank.com account information, you'll need to use a secure browser. Netscape Navigator, Netscape Communicator, and Microsoft Internet Explorer are all secure browsers; giantbank.com recommends using versions 4.0 or higher of any of these browsers for the best virtual banking experience. If you aren't using one of these browsers, or if you feel your browser does not meet the security requirements of giantbank.com, use one of the following links to download an upgraded browser.
Browser Downloads:
Netscape
Internet Explorer
Firefox
The secure browsers listed above use 128-bit encryption, which is the highest encryption available. To download the 128-bit version:
- Choose the operating system, language, and product version.
- Select "Download strong U.S./Canada-only encryption if available"
- Click on the "Download for Free" button.
To upgrade to the enhanced Internet Explorer Web browser with 128-bit encryption:
If you have America Online, use the keyword UPGRADE
Remember that once you've downloaded the proper browser, you must install it on your computer. Follow the browser manufacturer's instructions that appear on your screen.
Please note that MSN Explorer is NOT compatible with giantbank.com's Internet Banking products and services. If you currently use MSN for Internet Access, we recommend that you use Internet Explorer as your browser.
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Protecting your Privacy with EV SSL
Certain portions of this site are secured with Extended Validation (EV) SSL, the highest standard for Web site authentication. EV SSL signifies that giantbank.com has passed a rigorous identity authentication process. In high-security browsers, an EV SSL Certificate triggers the browser address bar to turn green, display https://, and show the name of the organization that owns this Web site and VeriSign, the certificate authority that verified giantbank.com's identity using a rigorous authentication process. When your address bar turns green, be sure to look to see that the owner of this Web site is the organization you intended to visit. Continue reading below for more information reagarding EV SSL.
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Network Security and Monitoring
We employ multiple firewalls to protect our giantbank.com systems and proprietary network from access by unauthorized Internet traffic. Firewalls also log network traffic to facilitate centralized auditing and security monitoring. The information you enter is communicated via a secure browser to our server, and encrypted for your protection.
Guarding the integrity of our systems and ensuring the security of your transactions is a top priority at giantbank.com. We monitor our network around the clock and regularly conduct third-party reviews of our security systems and processes.
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Here are few of the more commonly-asked security questions:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is my password protected?
Q. Is my information secure?
Q. Why did the address bar turn green?
Q. What is Extended Validation SSL?
Q. Why did giantbank.com choose Extended Validation for this Web site?
Q. Why does rigorous authentication matter?
Q. How can I protect my information and myself?
Q. How can I check to see if my connection is secure?
Q. If I see a "broken key" icon, is my connection still secure?
Q. Why do I need a User ID and Password?
Q. Are your email replies to me secure?
Is my password protected?
Yes. Your User ID and Password are stored and maintained in an environment that cannot be accessed via the Internet. In addition, the probability of someone guessing your User ID and Password is less than one in 1,000,000,000,000!
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Is my information secure?
Yes. giantbank.com encrypts your confidential information as it's transmitted to and from your PC using the Secure Sockets Layer ("SSL") protocol and 128-bit encryption. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificates are the standard method used on the Internet to secure communications between Web users and Web sites. This technology both authenticates the identity of a Web site and encrypts communications between the user and the Web site. For over a decade SSL Certificates have served to authenticate Web sites using different methods of authentication. Some Certificate Authorities merely verify that the organization requesting the certificate has the right to use their stated Internet domain address. More rigorous authentication methods include requiring proof of identity, proof of organizational status, and proof that the person is authorized by the domain holder to request a certificate.
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Why did the address bar turn green?
You are visiting a site secured with Extended Validation (EV) SSL, the highest standard for Web site authentication. EV SSL signifies that giantbank.com has passed a rigorous identity authentication process. In high-security browsers, an EV SSL Certificate triggers the browser address bar to turn green, display https://, and show the name of the organization that owns this Web site and VeriSign, the certificate authority that verified the owner's identity using a rigorous authentication process. When your address bar turns green, be sure to look to see that the owner of this Web site is the organization you intended to visit.
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What is Extended Validation SSL?
Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates represent the highest standard for authentication approved by the CA/Browser Forum, a group of leading SSL Certificate Authorities (CAs) and browser vendors. The standard requires that every Web site secured with EV SSL pass a certified process for rigorously verifying the identity of the organization responsible for that Web site. The validation process requires the CA to authenticate the certificate applicant's domain ownership and organizational identity, as well as the individual approver's employment with the applicant, and authority to obtain the Extended Validation SSL Certificate. The VeriSign Certification Practice Statement outlines our authentication and verification processes.
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Why did giantbank.com choose Extended Validation for this Web site?
We chose Extended Validation (EV) SSL to secure your online transaction with us because we take your online security very seriously. EV SSL signifies that giantbank.com has passed the strict EV identity authentication process.
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Why does rigorous authentication matter?
When you follow a link to a Web site, how do you know it is real? There are criminals who create Web sites that look familiar in order to trick visitors into revealing personal and financial information. These "phishing" web sites can be very difficult to distinguish from legitimate Web sites. An Extended Validation SSL Certificate displays the authenticated name of the organization that purchased the SSL Certificate. If the SSL Certificate does not have Extended Validation, the Web site visitor will have to find another way to establish trust with the Web site such as clicking on a trust mark.
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How can I protect my information and myself?
Treat your giantbank.com user name and password with great care, since they're all anyone needs to access your personal information online. Follow these tips to maximize security:
Don't select an "obvious" password. Avoid using your name as a password. Consider using a combination of letters and digits to make your password difficult to detect.
Never share your password with anyone. Don't write your password where others can find it. And make sure no one's looking over your shoulder as you enter your user name and password.
Change your password often. Update your password regularly to stay a step ahead of potential account misuse.
Use a terminal that's safe. Don't login to giantbank.com if you're at a computer that can be accessed by strangers, or someone you don't trust.
Keep your computer virus-free. To defend against viruses that capture passwords, codes and other keystroked information, run anti-virus updates on a regular basis.
Remember to log out. If you are going to leave your computer for an extended period of time, click "Home" from the giantbank.com secure banking website to log out and end your secure banking session. No one can gain access to your information while you're gone, since your user name and password will have to be re-entered. If your session automatically times out after a period of inactivity, just type in your User ID and Password to resume account access. Also, check out our Security Tips. You can also check out the FDIC "Tips for Safe Banking Over the Internet."
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How can I check to see if my connection is secure?
To make sure your information is encrypted, place your cursor in the frame you want to check, then follow the directions listed for your browser:
Netscape
PC users: Right-click, and select View Frame Info OR View/Page Frame Info from the browser menu bar.
Mac users: Ctrl-click, and select New Window with this Frame OR View| Page Info from the browser menu bar.
Internet Explorer
PC users: Right-click, and select Properties.
Mac users: Ctrl-click, and select Open Page in New Window.
Now check the web address you've accessed: If you are in a secure area, the address will read https://www. The "s" in the address means you've accessed a secure server, and your information is encrypted. You should also see a "whole key" icon in your browser frame.
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If I see a 'broken key' icon, is my connection still secure?
All sensitive account information - including your account number, User ID and Password - is protected, and your connection is secure. If you see a "broken key" icon instead of the "whole key" icon that signifies a secure session, keep in mind that our Web site uses multiple frames: The navigation bar across the very top of your screen is one frame; the choices at the left of your screen are contained in a second frame; and the main portion of the site is displayed in yet a third frame. The navigation bar, which displays only general information about our site, does not use encryption, and may display a "broken key." But any frame that displays sensitive account information is encrypted for your protection.
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Why do I need a User ID and Password?
In order to enter giantbank.com's secure banking area and access your account information, you must register a User ID and Password. If you do not provide this information, it is impossible for us to establish an online banking relationship with you.
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Are your email replies to me secure?
Any inquiries you transmit via Bank Mail while logged into your giantbank.com online account as well as any replies from giantbank.com via Bank Mail are safeguarded by Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. However, as e-mails sent via the giantbank.com website and our email reply to you is not considered secure, we recommend that you avoid including sensitive account information.
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Security Definitions
Encryption: A method of scrambling information before it is relayed, in order make sure only the intended recipient can translate and read it.
Secure Browser: An Internet browser that has Secure Socket Layer encryption to conduct secure financial transactions over the Internet.
Secure Socket Layer (SSL): An encryption technology that protects information being transmitted over the Internet to prevent tampering while it's in transit.
Secure Transaction: An online transaction that has been encrypted to protect from tampering.
Firewall: A device designed to keep unauthorized outsiders from tampering with a computer system, therefore increasing a server's security.
Cookie: A piece of data created by a Web server and stored on a user's computer. It allows a Web site to keep track of a user's patterns and preferences, and then store that information on the user's own hard disk.
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