First Federal and ICBA Urge Customers to Boost Data Privacy for Data Privacy Week

In recognition of Data Privacy Week, First Federal Savings Bank, together with the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), is encouraging customers to take proactive measures to protect their personal and financial information as cyber threats continue to evolve. While organizations worldwide are working to strengthen their defenses, the financial impact of cyber incidents in the United States is still rising. In fact, the average cost of a data breach in the country climbed to $10.22 million in 2025, reflecting not only persistent attacks but also growing regulatory penalties, even as global breach costs declined year over year.

Against this backdrop, First Federal and ICBA are reinforcing the importance of shared responsibility between financial institutions and consumers. Community banks continue to invest heavily in cybersecurity technologies, monitoring capabilities, and employee education. At the same time, customers play a crucial role in reducing overall risk by staying informed and adopting safe digital habits.

“Safeguarding customer information is central to our mission,” said Courtney Schmitt, VP Marketing Manager at First Federal Savings Bank. “Although no system can be completely risk-free, community banks like ours make significant investments in advanced security technologies, ongoing monitoring, and employee training to protect sensitive data. We also partner with our customers by sharing practical guidance to help reduce risk and respond swiftly in the event of a data breach.”

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To begin with, customers are advised to remain cautious when connecting to public networks. Public Wi-Fi can expose users to hidden threats, so individuals should avoid accessing financial accounts or entering sensitive information on unsecured connections. When connectivity is unavoidable, using a trusted virtual private network or a secure mobile hotspot can significantly lower exposure.

In addition, limiting the amount of personal information shared online is critical. Consumers should never disclose account numbers, login credentials, or verification codes in response to unsolicited phone calls, emails, or text messages, even when the communication appears legitimate. Furthermore, keeping devices and applications updated ensures that known vulnerabilities are patched, helping to block common attack methods.

Equally important, frequent account monitoring can make a major difference. By reviewing bank and credit card statements regularly, customers can quickly detect unauthorized activity. Checking credit reports also helps identify suspicious accounts or inquiries before damage escalates. Using strong, unique passwords ideally 12 characters or more along with multifactor authentication adds another essential layer of protection. Many experts also recommend reputable password managers to securely organize credentials.

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Moreover, First Federal and ICBA emphasized that rapid action is critical if personal data is suspected to be compromised. Customers should immediately place a security freeze on their credit reports to prevent unauthorized credit activity. Setting up fraud alerts can further prompt lenders to verify identity before issuing new credit or changing existing accounts. Changing passwords, securely destroying documents containing sensitive information, and reporting incidents to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and local authorities are also key steps.

Ultimately, Data Privacy Week serves as a timely reminder that cybersecurity is an ongoing process, not a one-time effort. Through continued investment by community banks and responsible digital behavior by consumers, both sides can work together to strengthen data protection, reduce fraud risk, and build long-term trust in an increasingly connected financial ecosystem.

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Tags: cybersecurity technologies, data protection, First Federal, threats, vulnerabilities

CyberTech Staff Writer

CyberTech Staff Writer is a seasoned cybersecurity expert and analyst with over 20 years of experience in IT security and networking. Passionate about safeguarding digital landscapes, they specialize in identifying, assessing, and reporting cyber threats and best practices to help enterprises prevent and recover from cyber disasters. Their expertise covers cloud security, application security, ransomware assessment, threat intelligence, incident response, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and more. As a recognized thought leader in the cybersecurity community, the CyberTech Staff Writer collaborates to deliver insightful, actionable content that empowers organizations to build strong, proactive defenses against evolving cyber threats.