FNBT Joins ABA for #BanksNeverAskThat Anti-Phishing Campaign

Release date: 10/3/2023

Beloit, WI, October 3, 2023– First National Bank and Trust (FNBT) has joined the American Bankers Association and banks across the nation to promote an industry-wide campaign educating consumers about the persistent threat of phishing scams. The FTC estimates that consumers lost $8.8 billion to phishing and other fraud in 2022, an increase of more than 44% compared to 2021. To combat phishing, the award winning #BanksNeverAskThat campaign uses attention-grabbing humor and other engaging content to empower consumers to identify bogus bank communications asking for sensitive information like their passwords and social security numbers.

“Fraudsters are becoming more and more sophisticated,” said Lisa Zeimetz, senior vice president, risk and compliance officer at FNBT. “Our goal is to help our customer family become aware of the tricks hackers use to try to access your information. Working together with the ABA, we can educate consumers and empower them to avoid becoming a victim of fraud."
 
“By impersonating a bank, a scammer can steal thousands of dollars with just one text message, phone call or email,” said Paul Benda, senior vice president, operational risk and cybersecurity at ABA. “With the strong support of participating banks like First National Bank and Trust, the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign seeks to turn the tables by arming consumers with the information they need to outsmart the scammers and protect their money.” 
 
FNBT along with banks from across the U.S., will join forces with ABA to kick off this year’s updated campaign on Oct. 2 to mark the beginning of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Throughout the month we will share consumer tips on social media to highlight common phishing schemes. Because cybersecurity education and fraud awareness can often be dull and forgettable to many consumers, the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign is designed to be bright and bold.

The campaign’s short videos offer questions that banks would never ask. Consumers are directed to BanksNeverAskThat.com where they will find a new interactive quiz, the "Scam City" video game, engaging videos, and tips on how to spot phishing scams.
 

About First National Bank and Trust:
First National Bank and Trust Company is a family-focused, community bank headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin. Chartered in 1882, First National Bank and Trust has grown to be a leading financial services institution offering products and services for consumers and businesses, as well as trust, retirement services, investment management, and brokerage. We now serve nearly 30,000 households in 13 communities and 16 locations in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois with assets of approximately $1.5 billion. We treat our customers, employees, shareholders and communities like family, with a goal of helping all our families succeed. Providing Sound Advice and delivering an exceptional experience has positioned First National Bank and Trust as a Stateline leader in the industry. For additional information, visit www.bankatfirstnational.com.