Online Banking Security | Protect Your Information

Access to our customer services, financial systems, and databases is strictly controlled. We use advanced technological and procedural safeguards, including:

• TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocols for encrypted communication
• AES 256-bit encryption for data in transit
• Physical security for all computer hardware and telecommunications systems
• Continuous monitoring and layered defenses to prevent unauthorized access

Encryption is the process of scrambling data into an unreadable format. It is more secure to transmit encrypted data over the internet. In the case of the Peoples Group websites, data is sent by your browser through an encrypted channel to our secure systems where the message is safely received. When you use People Group websites and secure data transmission is required, your browser sends data through a secure, encrypted channel using TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3, ensuring confidentiality and integrity.

Just as you play a vital role in ensuring the security of your home and your possessions, you too share in the responsibility for ensuring that your personal information is adequately protected. In order for us to ensure that only you are accessing your accounts, we need a unique way of knowing that it’s you. Just as the key to your home protects unwanted entry, the online banking “key”—your password—ensures that only you can access your accounts. It is your responsibility to ensure that your “key” to the Peoples Group websites is protected. Please observe the following security practices:

• Select a password that is easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess.
• Do not select a password that is easy to guess (such as 12345) or is based on personal information (avoid your birth date, address, phone number, social insurance number, or similar information about your family or friends). Otherwise, someone who knows you can easily guess your password.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for an added layer of protection.
• Keep your password confidential and never share it with anyone by any mechanism.
• Use a reputable password manager to generate and securely store complex passwords. This helps you avoid reusing passwords across multiple sites and eliminates the risk of forgetting them.
• Do not write your password down or store it in a file on your computer.
• Do not permit anyone to observe you typing in your password.
• Contact Peoples Group immediately if you suspect someone has gained knowledge of your password.
• Contact Peoples Group immediately if you believe there are errors or omissions in your account.
• Contact Peoples Group immediately if you become aware of any loss, theft, misuse, or unauthorized use.

While we have provided a secure channel for our customers to communicate with us, once the information has reached your computer, it’s up to you to protect it. To protect your information, you should:

• Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated to ensure you have the latest security patches.
• Install and regularly update antivirus and firewall software to protect against malware and unauthorized access.
• Disable automatic password-saving features in browsers; instead, use a reputable password manager to securely store and manage your credentials.
• Avoid using public wi-Fi for banking. If you must use it, connect through a trusted virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your traffic.
• Log out and close your browser after each session to prevent unauthorized access and clear sensitive data.
• Avoid using public or shared computers for any online banking activity.
• Enable full-disk encryption on your device to protect stored data in case of loss or theft.
• Use biometric authentication (e.g., fingerprint or facial recognition) if available, for added login security.
• Be cautious with browser extensions—only install those from trusted sources, as some may compromise your privacy.
• Monitor your device for unusual behavior, such as unexpected pop-ups or slow performance, which could indicate malware.

Be cautious when browsing unfamiliar websites. Visiting malicious or compromised sites can expose your device to malware or tracking scripts that may affect your online banking security.

Before accessing Peoples Group Websites, we recommend:

• Closing all other browser tabs and windows, especially those opened from unknown or suspicious sources.
• Clearing your browser cache and cookies to remove any residual data.
• Restarting your browser to ensure a clean session.
• Using a private/incognito window for added privacy and to prevent session data from being stored.

Always ensure you're accessing our site directly by typing the URL into your browser or using a trusted bookmark—avoid clicking on links from emails or third-party websites.

Never include account information, including account numbers and passwords, in any online correspondence with Peoples Group. Try to avoid accessing your accounts at a public computer (i.e. a library or at a friend’s house) as some computers may allow subsequent users to access your account information.

When a person pretends to be someone they’re not so they can trick you into revealing personal information it’s called phishing. Commonly done via email, phone, or text, the message will ask you to confirm personal information. You should always be wary of any communication that asks you to provide confidential information. Peoples Group will never ask you to confirm personal information unless you telephone us and ask us questions pertaining to your accounts. Peoples Group does not communicate with clients via text message.

We ensure your personal and financial information is protected within our banking service, financial systems, and databases. We ensure your personal and financial information is protected while in transit between your computer and our servers using industry standard security techniques which include Transport Layer Security (TLS) and encryption. Encryption ensures that information in transit between your computer and our server cannot be read (private and confidential) or changed (integrity). We ensure that only individuals who provide the correct password can access your account information.
We will NEVER ask you for any account or personal information via email or text.

For more information on the specific policies and practices that we use to safeguard your personal and financial information, please click here to view our Privacy Statement.