Prevent & Respond To Fraud

Fraud and scams are ever changing. Take these three simple steps to better protect yourself.

1. Set up banking alerts.

Alerts are a convenient way to monitor transaction activity and take action when needed. See how to turn on alerts.

2. Know the warning signs of a scam.

Click here to learn about the signs and test your scam detection skills.

3. Freeze your credit reports.

Freezing reports is an easy way to help prevent someone else from benefiting from your great credit scores.

Where do I freeze my credit report?

You'll need to freeze your credit report with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to maximize your protection.

Creating an account with each bureau and freezing your credit reports may seem daunting, but it's a lot easier than recovering from fraudulently opened accounts in your name.

Why do I need to freeze my credit report with all three credit bureaus?

Financial institutions, credit card companies, and lenders may use one or all three agencies when verifying your identity or credit history and credit scores. When a credit report is frozen, the respective credit bureau won't share your credit score or history with the companies inquiring. This helps prevent someone from getting approved for a loan or credit card in your name.

When will I need to unfreeze my credit report?

You may need to temporarily unfreeze your credit reports when applying for a loan, credit card, or opening an account with a financial institution.

For Bank of Ann Arbor customers, you will need to unfreeze your credit reports when:

  • Resetting your password for Online and Mobile banking to verify your identity. Alternatively, you can Contact us and we can help reset your password.
  • Opening an account online.
  • Applying for a mortgage, line of credit, or other loan

How do I unfreeze my credit report?

Each credit bureau allows you to freeze and unfreeze your credit report at any time. Temporarily unfreezing a credit report allows you to schedule when the report is unfrozen and refrozen.

Simply login to the account created when freezing your credit report at each bureau to unfreeze/freeze them.

  • Unfreeze or Freeze Equifax credit report
  • Unfreeze or Freeze Experian credit report
  • Unfreeze or Freeze TransUnion credit report

Additional resources to prevent and respond to fraud: