Your Personal Information: How Is It Protected?

At Royal Credit Union, protecting your personal and financial information is a responsibility we take seriously. Guided by our Core Values and in compliance with federal and state regulations, we use physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to help keep your non-public personal information secure.

How Royal Protects Your Personal Information

• Strong password requirements for both Team Members and Members.
• Restricted access to sensitive information, limited only to Team Members with a legitimate business need.
• Encrypting information and ensuring proper disposal of physical information.
• Annual training for Team Members focused on data protection and information security.
• Educational resources for Members to support informed, secure financial habits.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for online account access, adding an extra layer of protection.
• Regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Security is not a single action, it’s a continuous process of monitoring, improving, and strengthening our systems to help protect you and your information.

How You Can Strengthen Your Protection

While Royal works hard to safeguard your personal information, your daily habits also play an important role. One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself is by using strong, unique passwords, which can help protect against identity theft, financial fraud, unauthorized purchases, and email/social media takeovers. By strengthening your passwords, you close one of the most common paths criminals use to access personal information.

Strong passwords don’t have to be complicated.  Here are a few strategies to make secure passwords easier to remember:

• Use a password manager. It safely stores all your passwords and only requires you to remember one strong master password.
• Use a passphrase. Turn a meaningful sentence into a password by taking the first letter of each word and mixing in symbols or numbers.
• Get creative with patterns. Combine a personal phrase with a unique keyboard pattern only you know.
• Try the “first letters” method. Choose a favorite movie line or quote and use the first letter of each word to create your password.

These methods help you create strong, memorable passwords without sacrificing security.

Take A Layered Approach To Security

Fraudsters look for easy opportunities, but using multiple protective habits makes it much harder for them to succeed. In addition to strong passwords, here are several simple but effective ways you can take control of your financial security:

• Use secure methods to share information. When sending personal or financial information, choose secure websites, portals, or encrypted options rather than regular email or text messages. Avoid sharing sensitive details unless you are confident the method is protected and the request is legitimate.
• Enable extra verification whenever available. Many accounts offer additional security steps, such as one‑time codes or identity checks. These added layers help prevent access even if your username or password is compromised.
• Keep your contact information up to date. Make sure your phone number and email address are current so you receive important alerts about account activity. Notifications can help you spot suspicious behavior quickly and act before damage is done.
• Review account activity regularly. Take time to monitor transactions, login alerts, and account changes. If something doesn’t look right, report it promptly.
• Be cautious with unexpected messages. Fraudsters often use urgency or fear to trick people into sharing information. If you receive an unexpected request for personal details, especially through email, text, or phone, pause and verify it through a trusted, known source before responding.
• Protect your devices. Lock your phone and computer, keep software up to date, and avoid using public or shared devices to access sensitive accounts.
• Limit what you share publicly. Information shared on social media or public websites can be used to guess passwords or answer security questions. Being mindful of what you post helps reduce your risk.

Royal Is Here To Help

Even with strong protections in place, issues can arise from many external sources — scams, compromised passwords, or unauthorized activity. If something doesn’t look right, please report it immediately. If you have any questions about your account’s safety, please reach out to Royal. We’re here to support you and ensure you feel confident and protected as you manage your finances.