You may have read or seen recent news reports detailing the compromise of more than 100 million credit and debit cards at Heartland Payment Systems. Unfortunately, some Valley Community Bank customers have had MasterCard® Debit Card numbers included in this breach.

Due to excessive fraud, we have been forced to allow only PIN based transactions in certain states and at certain merchants. Signature based transactions in the affected states and by certain merchants may be unavailable. PIN based transactions are still available at all locations.

The card numbers were compromised directly at Heartland Payment Systems, one of the nation's largest payment processors delivering credit, debit and prepaid card processing, payroll, check management and payments solutions. Heartland Payment Systems reported on January 20, 2009, that they were a victim of a security breach in 2008. Heartland has established a web site to address consumer questions: http://www.2008breach.com/. Valley Community Bank was not compromised in this breach and in no way responsible for this breach.

Additionally, you should know that no sensitive information (addresses, Social Security numbers, etc) other than card numbers was stolen, so this theft does not automatically put victims at risk for identity theft. You may also be surprised to learn that most card numbers stolen in this way are never used for fraud of any kind.

However, you should always keep a close eye on your statements and account information. It's easy to monitor your accounts 24/7 by using our online banking at www.vcbank.net.

Any time your card is lost, stolen, or compromised please report it immediately by calling us at (630)584-4433.

What is a compromised card?
A compromised card is a card that is at risk of being used fraudulently. Cards may be compromised due to computer theft, unauthorized network intrusion, or other types of suspicious activity. This can happen at a store where you shopped or as your card number and payment information travel electronically through the processing system.

What do I do if I use my card at a merchant and my card gets declined?
If you are using it as a signature based transaction it could be declined due to a high amount of fraud occurring at that merchant or in that state. Try the transaction again using your PIN.

How does Valley Community Bank react to compromise notifications?
We take every compromise seriously. We may require issuance of new cards for affected customers. Customers may receive a phone call, e-mail and/or written notification if their card data has been compromised. If it is necessary to replace your card we will order it automatically and at no charge to you.

What if a fraudulent transaction clears my account and I do not have enough money to pay my bills?
In some situations, Valley Community Bank may issue you Provisional Credit while the matter is being disputed and investigated. The important thing is that you contact us as soon as you discover any fraudulent activity.

How long will it take to receive my replacement card?
Most cards are received within 10 business days from the date we become aware that your card has been compromised. The new PIN is typically delivered a day or two after that.

What do I need to do if I discover fraud on my account?
If your card has not been blocked already, call Valley Community Bank immediately at (630)584-4433.

What do I do when I receive my new Debit Card?
Cut up the old compromised card and start using the new card immediately. In order to activate your new card, you will need to perform a transaction using your PIN at any ATM.

Will my PIN number change along with my card number?
Yes, the new card number will have a new randomly generated PIN number. To change your PIN number, please come to any of our branch locations.

What if I do not want to have my compromised card blocked?
Compromises are serious. Fraudulent activity may occur if the card is not blocked and it could occur days, weeks, months or even years from now. The fraud dispute process can be inconvenient and cumbersome. While many customers do not experience fraud when a compromise is reported, the risk exposure still exists if the cards are not blocked and replaced. To protect our customers, minimize inconvenience and losses, Valley Community Bank may require that compromised cards be replaced.

What if I have preauthorized debits made to my compromised card number?
You should contact the merchant(s) immediately upon receipt of your replacement card(s) and provide them with the new card number and expiration date. This process may be as simple as logging into the corresponding merchant(s) site and updating the information yourself. If this is not the case, you may need to write to them to let them know of a card number change.

There are other authorized users with Debit Cards on this account; does this affect their card(s) too?
It may, but each Debit Card number is unique. If other authorized users on your account have Debit Cards that were also compromised, we will take the same measures with each of those cards as we have with yours.

Can this information be used to steal my identity?
The information encoded on the compromised card pertains strictly to the card, potentially including the card number and expiration date. Confidential information such as Social Security Numbers, driver’s license numbers, addresses and dates of birth are not stored on the card.

What can I do to keep this from recurring?
Unfortunately, we have no way of stopping criminals from "hacking" into databases of merchants or merchant processors.

What else can be done to insure that fraud doesn't occur on my card?
    • Always know where your card is. If you misplace it, call Valley Community Bank immediately so we can block the card from use
    • Never write your PIN on the card
    • Never carry the written PIN with you
    • Faithfully review your statement(s) as soon as you receive them or daily review your accounts with online banking @ www.vcbank.net.