New security enhancements to Online Branch will better safeguard the privacy and security of your account information. In addition to using your account number and password when you log in, you'll also have a personalized security image. The combination of your account number, password, and security image ensure that we recognize you and you recognize us when you log in to your account.

Why we added security features
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), regulators that oversee banks and credit unions, announced that passwords alone will no longer be acceptable as the sole means of achieving online security. Multifactor Authentication (MFA) was the recommended solution. All financial institutions are required to use some method of multifactor authentication in their remote banking systems.

Summit has always taken the safety and security of Online Branch very seriously. And Online Branch has never experienced any security breaches. But now with the enhanced security features, you'll have additional peace of mind for your Online Branch transactions.

Here's how it will work:

• You'll complete a simple, one-time enrollment process the first time you log in to the enhanced system. During the enrollment process, you'll be asked to choose a security image that will be presented to you each time you log in. You'll also select three challenge questions and provide the answers to those questions. Once the Online Branch Security enrollment is complete, we'll ask you to provide an email address, if we don't already have one on file for you.
• When you log in after enrollment, you'll enter your account number.
• If we recognize your PC, we'll show you your security image. If we don't recognize your computer, we'll ask you one of the challenge questions you answered during enrollment before presenting your security image.
• Once you view your security image, you can safely enter your password and continue to Online Branch.
• If you don't see your security image, don't enter your password. Save a view of your screen, including the Web address, and contact us right away. A missing or wrong security image is an indication that you are not on Summit's site, and instead are on a "spoofed" site and part of an attempted "phishing" scam. (As long as you don't enter your password, your account will not be compromised.) Summit's site has never been spoofed in a phishing scam, but now you'll have a definitive way of knowing that you're on the legitimate, secure site when conducting your transactions.

We'll also ask you to provide an email address. This means that you'll be able to view your statements electronically--much more secure than receiving statements through the mail. You'll also be able to set up automatic alerts on your accounts, which allow you to be automatically notified of important changes to your account, including changes to passwords and personal contact information. You can also choose to set up alerts based on balance activity. This will allow you to monitor your accounts closely-the best prevention against fraudulent activity. To set up alerts: simply click on the "Access Accounts" menu in Online Branch then select "e-Mail Notifications" and "My Personal Alerts" to set the alerts you'd like to receive.

Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.