Welcome to the GRBblog! Get to know GRB, Rochester's only locally owned and managed commercial bank. A commercial bank, but also a community bank, with an entrepreneurial spirit about everything we do. We're committed to Growing Rochester Business and making our community a better place to live and work.
The GRBblog is where we post bank news and information, stories about the great organizations we support, and share relevant local and national business news.
GRB is proud to support the American Bankers Association (ABA) in this year’s #BanksNeverAskThat anti-phishing campaign. In conjunction with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’re providing tips to help even more consumers beat scammers at their own game. Last year, nearly 1,700 banks in all 50 states joined forces, including GRB, for the first #BanksNeverAskThat campaign. We’re happy to participate in 2021’s event with social posts, in-branch materials, and other educational resources.
Phishing risks
Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. We want to help change that by raising awareness among our customers with best practices for creating a personal phishing defense. And phishing scams are costly, leading to losses of as much as $3.3 billion each year.
Some of the questions below may seem harmless. But every piece of information a scammer obtains brings them one step closer to stealing your identity or accessing your accounts.
Remember, #BanksNeverAskThat
If you receive an unexpected phone call, text or email from someone claiming to be GRB, think twice and protect yourself with these strategies:
Add GRB’s phone numbers to your phone. If a call isn’t coming from a recognizable GRB number, it might be a scam. Call us on a number you know is legitimate. We are happy to verify any requests you receive by phone.
If you don’t have text banking set up for your account, and still receive a text message, be suspicious. Often, these text messages are meant to sound urgent so you’ll click. Contact GRB and ask for verification.
Email messages with blurry images, misspelled words and poor grammar should be suspect. Requests to verify information or provide personal information via email should also be avoided.
More anti-phishing resources
If you want additional information on ways to protect yourself from phishing attacks, go to BanksNeverAskThat.com.
Fraud occurs in many forms. Finding the right resource is critical in receiving the help you need to protect yourself.
Legal Advice
If you are in need of legal advice, please contact your local bar association at www.findlegalhelp.org. The Fraud Section conducts criminal prosecutions and cannot provide legal advice to citizens.
Reporting Fraud
If you would like to report fraud, please contact the appropriate investigative agency as follows:
Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP, 1-877-ID-THEFT, or online at www.ftc.gov.
Disaster-Related Fraud Contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721, by fax at (225) 334-4707 or submit a complaint through the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
Correspondence may be sent to: National Center for Disaster Fraud Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909
General Fraud and Other Criminal Matters Contact the FBI at (202) 324-3000, or online at www.fbi.gov or tips.fbi.gov.
Health Care Fraud, Medicare/Medicaid Fraud, and Related Matters Contact the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS, or online at www.oig.hhs.gov.
Internet Fraud and Lottery/Sweepstakes Fraud by Internet Contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) online at www.ic3.gov.
Mail Fraud and Lottery/Sweepstakes Fraud Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-800-372-8347, or online at postalinspectors.uspis.gov.
It’s that time already. Students returning to campus, and scammers often come along for the ride. Fraudulent offers and discounts are targeted at college students looking to save money wherever possible.
The list below provides information on a few of the scams commonly targeted at young college students. But the list is by no means complete. Scammers come up with new ideas for separating you from your money all the time. Always complete your due diligence and check for any malicious actions or warning signs when the deal looks too good to be true!
Property Rental Scams
Thieves may pose as someone selling or renting a property and approach students looking to live off-campus. Scammers promise to rent the property once they receive payment. But once the payment is received, the scammer disappears.
Protect yourself by never paying a deposit without seeing the property in person. Always review thelease agreement before paying or signing.
Laptop + Cell Phone Scams
Scammers entice young adults with misleading or false advertisements offering hefty discounts on cell phones, laptops or other devices. Victims end up on predatory websites where “big-ticket” products are offered at aggressively low prices, or even for free. The scammer’s goal is payment for a product they will never send or to collect personal information from the victim.
When making a large purchase, such as a cellphone, laptop, or tablet, be sure to make your purchase through reputable websites rather than through targeted advertisements.
Online Textbook Scams
Fraudsters create fake websites offering discounts on college textbooks. Unfortunately, students never receive the books. They waste class time without the proper materials and they lose the money spent on the book.
Be sure to purchase or rent your textbooks through your university bookstore or reputable publishing companies, and use buy-back programs.
Scholarship Scams
These scams target students looking for assistance paying for college tuition. The goal is to get students to provide personal information or pay upfront fees for non-existent scholarships. Keep in mind that most scholarship information is available for free.
Your best defense against scholarship scams is to visit the Department of Education’s website on scholarships. Students will have access to free resources on scholarships or find alternative options for financial assistance.
GRB is Here. For You.
At GRB we do our best to stay up to date on the latest scams and fraud trends to keep you and your finances safe. To learn more about how to protect yourself, visit our Security Resources page.
If you are a GRB customer and believe you are a victim of fraud, visit our Report Fraud page to receive the proper help.
We are pleased to announce GRB has ranked no. 6 in the the mid-size employer (100-250) category for “Best Companies to Work For New York“. This is a significant achievement during a year filled with challenges.
Awards for the “Best Companies” are based on feedback provided through employee surveys, which focus on:
Leadership & Planning
Corporate Culture & Communications
Role Satisfaction
Work Environment
Relationship with Supervisor
Training, development & resources
Pay & Benefits
Continued Success
Continuing to serve our customers during a pandemic demanded constant flexibility and patience. Because of Team GRB’s tremendous effort, we were able to maintain our stability and efficiency and provide support for small businesses and families throughout the Greater Rochester area.
GRB’s eighth appearance on the “Best Companies” list is truly a testament to our strong leadership team and the commitment of our employees. GRB would not be what it is without our employees, and we appreciate each and every individual.
Well-Deserved Celebration
In celebration of making the “Best Companies” list, GRB celebrated with a fun virtual event.
After a trying year, receiving the “Best Companies” award was a special way to recognize all the ways that we supported each other, our customers, and the community last year.
Financial institutions use a wide range of security protocols to make sure customer information stays safe and secure for online and mobile banking. But customers also have a significant amount of power when it comes to stopping hackers and thieves in their tracks. Follow these suggestions for keeping your online and mobile banking access secure.
Don’t do your banking on public Wi-Fi
It may be tempting to use the coffee shop’s Wi-Fi to pay your bills while you grab a latte, but keep banking activities limited to private networks. You can, however, use your smartphone and a data plan – rather than Wi-Fi – to access bank account information securely. Make sure you are always using an encrypted website. Look for the https in the website address – the “s” is important!
Set up your account to receive text alerts
You can set up online and mobile banking to send you alerts via text or email whenever certain transactions (or any transaction) is made. If someone is trying to gain unauthorized access to your account, you’ll know immediately and can notify your financial institution. This is a powerful real-time fraud deterrent.
Create challenging passwords and change them frequently
This is a strong preventative measure, but it’s also the one that people often ignore. Even though it can be difficult changing passwords, it can be one of the best ways to protect yourself from hacking attempts. Use combinations with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. The longer and more complex the password, the harder it will be for a hacker to figure it out. See our Blog post on creating unique passwords.
Put anti-virus software on every device
Make it a regular habit to check the status of your anti-virus protection. A little investment in good anti-virus software is a necessity for your home computers and mobile devices. Make sure it’s on every device and keep it up to date.
Financial institutions employ significant security measures to ensure safe online and mobile banking. At GRB, we encourage users to employ additional protections to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to their accounts. A little protection can go a long way to maintaining a safe online and mobile banking environment.
Beware of phishing scams
SMS and email scammers may try to imitate your bank to convince you to give up personal or account information. If you are unsure about a request, always reach out to your bank on a phone number you know is legitimate to verify.
Customize your lock screen
Fingerprint scanners, Face ID, and passwords for your phone can all help deter thieves from gaining access to your smartphone – and your bank account. But most phones still permit users to access notifications, the automated assistant (Siri, Google, etc.), and certain apps when the phone is locked. Use your phone’s privacy and security settings to tweak your lock screen features for added protection.
We’ve all done it – use the same passwords for multiple accounts because it’s just easier. Well, it’s also easier for hackers. By repeating passwords or using similar variations, you are essentially creating a master key. Once hackers have your key, they have access to everything. But creating unique passwords can help stop hackers in their tracks.
It pays to be creative
Protecting your information online is vital. Though it may take more time, it is important to develop unique passwords for every account you hold. Password reuse is one of the leading causes of account compromises. Some of the largest and most costly data breaches started with a single compromised password.
But what defense do we have against tech-savvy hackers? It’s as simple as creativity. Your password should be unique and complex. If your password is too simple or too short, hackers will have a clear path to your information. If they go so far as to steal your identity, the damage can be devastating: financial losses, credit damage, emotional distress, and even a criminal record if the thief uses your identity to commit other crimes.
Staying safe and secure
Remembering every password you create can be difficult, but it’s even harder to recover from a malicious online attack. Creating a strong unique password is your first line of defense against hackers. Follow the simple “Do’s and Don’ts” for creating strong passwords and build your defenses today:
Do’s
Make your password L O N G – 12 characters is a good minimum for passwords
Combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols within the code
Use a password manager, and let the system create a password for you
Don’ts
Never reuse passwords!
Avoid symbol substitutions, they’re easily detected by hackers – i.e. using @ for the letter A
Common words and phrases are easy to crack, make it more complex!
Avoid using passwords that hold personal significance to you
GRB Security Resources
Visit our Security Resources page to find more information and resources on how you can keep your information safe.
If you believe you are a victim of fraud, use our Report Fraud page to get help.
We’ve all heard it – younger generations aren’t spending like generations before, but it doesn’t take long to understand why. With the rising cost of tuition and subsequent increase in student loan debt, it became challenging for young graduates to gain access to loan programs that allowed them to purchase a home. But that changes with the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) new lending guidelines for homebuyers with student loan debt.
Effective immediately, the Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2021-13, or, Student Loan Payment Calculation of Monthly Obligation, updates the monthly mortgage payment calculation for borrowers with student loan debt who apply for FHA-insured mortgages. This update will provide greater access to mortgage credit for homebuyers with student loan debt.
The announcement enhances FHA’s ability to serve one of its core demographics—first-time homebuyers. Over 80 percent of FHA-insured mortgages are for first-time homebuyers on average each year. Of those buyers, the FHA estimates that more than 45 percent also have student loan debt.
If you are a prospective homebuyer with student loan debt and would like to learn more about the changes to the FHA loan program, read the official Press Release.
If you’re ready to begin the search for your home, contact us today! We’ll get you in touch with our Mortgage Team and discuss the options available to you.
You worked hard for your degree, now let us work for you to make homeownership a reality. Let’s get you home, today!
Roughly 20 percent of older Americans fall prey to financial exploitation losing on average $120,000, or $3 billion every year, according to a study from the AARP Public Policy Institute.
Be on the Lookout for Elder Financial Abuse Scams
The unfortunate reality is that older adults are attractive targets for financial exploitation because they possess more wealth than other potential victims.
With World Elder Abuse Awareness Day marked this year on June 15, it is a good time to provide seniors and their family members with tips to guard against financial exploitation.
At GRB we take a proactive approach to detecting and preventing financial fraud against older customers through routine employee training and the use of technology to spot red flags and report suspicious activity to authorities.
We encourage everyone to remain vigilant regarding common schemes and scams, like those below.
Medicare/Health Insurance Scams
It is difficult to imagine someone preying on those in need of medical assistance, but Medicare fraud is quite common. Criminals posing as Medicare or medical supply reps may try to steal a victim’s identity or offer bogus services to bill Medicare.
Another COVID-19 related scam centers around a FEMA program to assist with funeral expenses. While this is a legitimate program, and you can reach out to FEMA to apply for these benefits, citizens should be mindful that:
FEMA will not contact you until you call or apply for assistance.
The government won’t ask you to pay anything to get this benefit.
Never share personal or financial information with anyone who contacts you out of the blue.
Zoom Phishing Emails and Internet Fraud
At the onset of the pandemic con artists registered thousands of fake Zoom-related internet domains to send phony emails, texts or social media messages. These bogus links led consumers to inadvertently download malware (malicious software) that exposed their personal information.
Internet scammers often send fake text messages alleging trouble with an internet account, credit card, bank account or shopping order. Many even contain realistic looking logos to lure you into clicking on a link and divulging personal information.
To limit your exposure, avoid clicking on links from unsolicited emails or texts. If you suspect a problem with an account, contact the bank or service provider directly.
Telemarketing/Phone Scams
Seniors schooled in etiquette may frown upon “hanging up the phone” or simply saying “no” to unsolicited calls. But those good manners can leave the door open to criminals. Three notable examples include:
The pigeon drop. Con artists pretend to share found money in exchange for a “good faith” payment drawn from the contacted person’s bank account.
The fake accident ploy. Con artists create a false story that a loved one is injured and needs money for medical expenses. Don’t trust these callers, verify information with family members directly.
Charity scams. Con artists solicit funds on behalf of a charity they are not affiliated with or that is not legit. Remember, if it’s too good to be true it probably is. If you want to give go directly to the source.
Scams are always changing. The Federal Trade Commission has a “scam alert” page with up-to-date scam information at consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts.
And as trusted stewards of our customer’s financial data, feel free to reach out to GRB. We train our employees on fraud prevention techniques and can help you spot potential scams. If you suspect financial fraud, we can help you take appropriate measures to protect your account.
We are proud to announce that the Rochester Business Journal and the Rochester Chapter of Financial Executives International have selected GRB President and CEO Phil Pecora as a Financial Leader 2021. Pecora was recognized in the category of Commercial Banker.
Financial Leaders 2021 recognizes financial professionals who have made outstanding contributions to their organizations and to the Greater Rochester community during the past year. Nominees were judged based on their professional accomplishment within their category and on their civic commitment to the Rochester community.
We can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition and are proud to celebrate Phil Pecora and his commitment and endless effort to support the Rochester community. Congratulations!
GRB is pleased to announce it has once again been named to the “Best Companies to Work for in New York” state awards. This is the eighth year that GRB has made the list. The awards are decided based in large part on responses from employee surveys and is sponsored by the New York State Society for Human Resource Management (NYS-SHRM).
