Fraud & Security

Keeping you safe.

Your privacy and security is important to us.

Protecting our customers' financial and personal information is a priority for Civista Bank. Learn more about how we help protect your personal and financial information, and ways you can help protect yourself.

Alerts - Current Scams and FRAUD NEWS:

Email, Text and Phone Scams - Cybercriminals are targeting financial institution customers. Learn more about how to protect yourself.
Business Check Fraud & Other Payments Scams - Payments fraud is a growing trend affecting area businesses. Learn more about how you can protect your business.

Common Scams

Impersonation Scams - Hackers can spoof numbers for government agencies, like the IRS, debt collectors, your local bank or even people you know, asking for sensitive information.
Reactivation Scams - Scammers may send text messages asking you to reactivate your account by clicking on a link or calling a number.
Delivery Notification Scams - You may receive a text message or email saying that you have a package waiting for you and to click on the link to track it.
Prize Scams - Scammers claim that the you've won a large prize or lottery and are required to pay an 'administrative fee' in order to claim it.
Family Emergency Scams - You may receive a call from someone pretending to be a loved one in distress and asking for money to help them out with an emergency.

How to Spot Scams

Understand that scammers often pretend to be from trusted organizations. They may utilize technology to impersonate names and phone numbers. So what you see on your device may not be real.
Criminals may include high pressure, urgent requests — citing a problem or prize that needs your immediate attention.
Many phishing emails or texts will contain grammatical errors in the message or sender's email address.
Scammers may also tell you a specific payment method that you must use to remedy the situation. Often suggesting cryptocurrency or gift cards.
They may also send you a check to deposit, asking you to send back a portion of the money. When its discovered the check is fake you'll be out the funds.

Reporting Fraud

If you suspect suspicious account activity or receive an email, voice mail or text message that appears to be from us, but you suspect to be fraudulent, please do not click on any links or attachments or enter any requested information. These could be attempts to obtain personal information.

ATM/Debit Card Fraud

Notify us at 800.604.9368; or
Log into your Civista Digital Banking, select 'Manage Cards' > 'Debit Card Control'. Click the card and select 'Report lost, stolen or fraud'.

Credit Card Fraud

Notify us at 800.558.3424

Identity Theft

If you believe your identity has been stolen, call us immediately at 800.604.9368 to report the issue, and we can note your accounts.
To begin the identity theft reporting process, use the universal ID Theft Affidavit at www.ftc.gov/idtheft to have a fraud alert placed on your credit file.
You may also call the Federal Trade Commission’s toll-free ID Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) for more information.

We will be glad to help you open a new checking account as a result of suspected fraud. We will assist you in the transfer and provide a free box of basic checks for your new account.

Tips for Avoiding Scams & Protecting your Identity

Never click on links or attachments from unknown senders.
Don't respond to suspicious messages or call phone numbers provided in suspicious messages — Instead go to the source by reaching out to the sender via their official phone number or webpage.
- Contact Civista directly or stop in your local branch to speak with someone in person.
Never provide your personal or financial information.
- Civista will never call, text, or email you asking for your personal information, secure access codes, or login credentials.
Block unwanted calls or text messages.
Don't be pressured to act immediately.

Additional Tips:

Protecting Your Credit

To request a free annual credit report, go to www.annualcreditreport.com, call 877-322-8228, or mail a request form to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

It’s the only authorized source under federal law.

Protecting Your Online Identity

Memorize your password and change it frequently.
Be aware of unsolicited emails and text messages. Never click on a link from an unknown source.
Always use a password protected wireless internet connection.
Keep in mind free public wifi connections are not always secure.
Websites using “https” in the address bar indicate a secure site.

Protecting Your ATM/Debit Cards

Never share your PIN with others.
Choose a PIN that is easy to remember, but not easy for others to figure out.
When using an ATM, be aware of your surroundings.
If you are familiar with an ATM, watch for suspicious devices added to the machine.
If you have a smartphone, add your Civista debit card to your digital wallet.
Temporarily disable your debit card when not in use with Civista Digital Bankings Debit Card Control features.
Enroll in FraudEYE alerts to receive suspicious debit card activity alerts via text.

Protecting Your Digital Banking

Never share your secure access code with anyone, including family and friends. This code is designed to keep your financial information secure and should only be used by you. Scammers may try to trick you into revealing this information, but Civista will never ask for your code over the phone or via email.

Protecting Your Accounts

Monitor your accounts regularly and contact Civista immediately if you suspect fraudulent activity.

You can review your account balances and transactions daily using any of the following free services:

Civista Digital Banking
Civista Mobile App¹
Civista Automated Telephone Banking

Enroll in Account Alerts:

Within your Civista Digital Banking go to 'Settings' > 'Alerts'. There are various options to allow you to closely monitor transactions and activity on your accounts.

Keep your contact information up-to-date with us, so we can notify you quickly if we detect suspicious activity.

¹ Standard wireless carrier charges may apply.