Identity theft doesn’t always start with a big hack. It can begin with a lost wallet, a quick click on a fake email or a document tossed in the trash instead of shredded. Once criminals have enough pieces of your personal information—like your Social Security number, account numbers or online passwords—they can open accounts in your name, extract funds or damage your credit.
Your financial security is a top priority for us, so we want to make it as easy as possible for you to lower your risk and know what to do if something goes wrong.
How Identity Theft Happens
Bad actors use both digital and old‑fashioned tactics to target their victims. Here are some common methods they can use:
Please remember that we will never call, email or text you to ask for your online banking password, debit card PIN or any other private information!
Habits that can Protect Your Information
Small, consistent habits are often your best defense. Here are two key actions you can take to protect your information:
1. Secure the Documents in Your Life
Keep important documents in a secure location such as a safe and shred the ones you no longer need. These types of documents include social security cards, birth certificates, passports, deeds, titles, tax returns and financial records. If you’re unsure, shred it.
2. Strengthen Your Digital Security
Monitoring Your Accounts and Credit
Even with solid habits, issues can arise. Catching them early can greatly limit the damage. Here are some steps you can take to keep an eye out for suspicious activity on your accounts:
1. Review Your Accounts and Set Alerts
2. Check Your Credit Reports
Act Quickly if You Think You are a Victim
If you spot unauthorized activity or accounts, prompt action is critical. We recommend the following steps to assist you:
- Contact us immediately.
- Do not be ashamed or embarrassed! We are here to help you protect your finances and connect you to the resources you need.
- Create a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov (FTC).
- Report the theft and get a personalized plan. You can also generate an Identity Theft Report and letters to send to creditors and credit bureaus.
- Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the credit bureaus.
- A fraud alert lasts one year and can be renewed. A credit freeze stays in place until you lift it.
- Follow up and monitor.
- Keep copies of all letters and notes from any phone calls or correspondence. Recheck your credit reports and account activity to ensure fraudulent accounts and charges are removed.
We’re Here to Help
We invest in secure online and mobile banking, fraud monitoring and identity verification measures to help protect you. But your awareness is just as important.
If you:
Pause, and contact our Customer Care Center immediately. During Identity Theft Awareness Week—and all year—we’re here to help you keep your finances safe.
For more fraud prevention tips, visit Heartland Bank’s Security Center.
This article may refer to and link to third party information that has been verified to the best of our abilities. There is no guarantee of accuracy. Heartland Bank does not endorse companies, services, or products referenced in its articles and is not responsible for the content, links, privacy, or security policies of these third parties. Information in the above article may include material from the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice (https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/06/protecting-your-personal-information-which-documents-keep-which-shred or https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/09/how-recover-identity-theft) and the Heartland Bank and Trust Company website (https://www.hbtbank.com/security-center).