Protecting Your Credentials in an Evolving AI World
Protect Your Online Banking Credentials
At TowneBank, protecting your financial information is important to us. You should keep your Online Banking username, password and other sign-in credentials private and never share them with a third party, including an AI-powered tool or agent.
Important Reminder
If you choose to share your Online Banking credentials with a third party, including an AI agent, you are responsible for activity resulting from that access.
Technology continues to change the way we manage everyday life, including how we shop, communicate and manage our finances. As artificial intelligence becomes more capable, new AI-powered tools and agents are emerging that can perform tasks on a user's behalf.
While these tools may offer convenience, allowing any third-party service to access your financial accounts introduces significant security risks.
What Is an AI Agent?
An AI agent is a type of software designed to take actions on someone's behalf. Unlike an AI tool that simply answers a question, an agent may be able to interact with websites and other services to complete tasks.
That distinctione is especially important when financial accounts are involved.
Your Login Information Is More Than a Password
Your Online Banking credentials help TowneBank verify access to your account. If those credentials are provided to another person, service or AI agent, that person, service, or agent will be able to access Online Banking using the same information you use.
A Simple Rule Can Help Protect You
Keep your Online Banking credentials to yourself.
Do not share your:
- Online Banking username
- Online Banking password
- Authentication or verification codes
- Other private sign-in credentials
This includes providing these credentials to an AI agent or another third-party service that asks to log in to Online Banking on your behalf.
Why Sharing Credentials Creates Risk
Giving another service your credentials is different from simply asking an AI tool a question. Sharing your credentials may give that service the ability to access sensitive financial information or interact with your account.
You may be giving a service access to sensitive financial information.
Once another service has your credentials, your information is no longer being entered only within the Online Banking experience you normally use. Providing credentials to an outside service introduces additional security and privacy considerations.
Software may act on your behalf.
AI agents are designed to do more than retrieve information. Some can navigate websites or perform multistep tasks for users. Providing an agent with account credentials could therefore give the service the ability to interact with Online Banking on your behalf.
Your credentials are meant to protect access to your account.
Keeping your username, password and authentication information private is an important part of protecting your account.
A New Consideration in a Changing Digital World
As AI technology evolves, questions about how third-party agents interact with financial accounts are receiving increased attention across the financial services industry.
The larger issue isn't whether AI is good or bad. It is about protecting the credentials that provide access to your financial information.
What TowneBank Recommends
The safest approach is simple:
Do not share your TowneBank Online Banking credentials with third-party services, including AI agents.
If a new app, website or AI-powered service asks for your TowneBank Online Banking username and password so that it can access your account on your behalf, do not provide that information.
Protecting your credentials helps protect your account, your financial information and your privacy.
Technology Will Continue to Change. Good Security Habits Shouldn't.
AI tools will continue to evolve, and the ways we use technology to manage our financial lives will evolve with them. But some of the most important security practices remain the same.
Keep your credentials private. Be thoughtful about who or what you allow to access your financial information. And when you're unsure, take a moment before sharing sensitive information.
At TowneBank, we're committed to helping you bank confidently while keeping security at the forefront.
Online Banking Security
Frequently Asked Questions
New technology can make everyday tasks more convenient, but protecting access to your financial information remains important. These answers can help you make informed decisions before connecting your account to an outside app, website, or AI-powered service.
Is it safe to give an AI agent or third-party service my Online Banking username and password?
Your Online Banking credentials with any third party, including an AI-powered tool or agent.
Your username, password, and authentication information are meant to help protect access to your account. Providing that information to another service will allow the service to access Online Banking using the same credentials you use.
The safest choice is to keep your Online Banking credentials private.
What is an AI agent, and why would it need my banking credentials?
An AI agent is software that can take actions on your behalf rather than simply providing information or answering questions. Depending on the service, an agent may be designed to interact with websites or other digital services to complete tasks.
If an AI service asks for your Online Banking username, password, authentication code, or other credentials so it can access your account, do not provide them.
What information should I never share with an AI agent or other third party?
Keep information used to access or authenticate your TowneBank Online Banking account private, including:
- Your Online Banking username
- Your Online Banking password
- One-time passcodes or verification codes
- Answers or information used to verify your identity
- Other private authentication information
If someone or something asks for information that would allow it to sign in as you, do not share it.
What are the risks of sharing my Online Banking credentials?
When you give your credentials to another service, you may be giving that service the ability to access sensitive financial information or interact with your account.
It also means that your credentials are handled outside the TowneBank Online Banking environment. How another company stores, protects, uses, or retains information is governed by that company's own practices and policies.
Sharing your credentials increases the risk of unauthorized activity, fraud, or exposure of your financial information.
What happens if an AI agent uses my credentials to access Online Banking?
If you voluntarily provide your TowneBank Online Banking credentials to a third party, including an AI agent, you are responsible for activity resulting from that access.
TowneBank may detect, block, limit, challenge, suspend, or terminate any access TowneBank believes is or may be used by an AI agent. TowneBank may also reject instructions it believes came from an AI agent and may suspend or terminate your access to online banking.
What should I do if an app or AI service asks for my TowneBank password?
Pause before proceeding.
If a third-party service asks you to provide your TowneBank username, password, authentication code, or other private sign-in information so it can access Online Banking on your behalf, do not provide those credentials.
A request for your banking credentials should always be treated carefully, even when the service appears legitimate or offers a convenient feature.
I already shared my Online Banking credentials with a third-party service. What should I do?
If you previously provided your TowneBank Online Banking credentials to an outside app or website and no longer want that service to have access, or if you provided your TowneBank Online Banking credentials with an AI agent change your Online Banking password.
You should also review your account activity for anything you do not recognize and contact TowneBank promptly if you notice suspicious or unauthorized activity.
Changing your credentials can help prevent future access using the old password, but it may not remove information the third party previously collected. You may also need to contact the third-party provider regarding information it retains.
If I stop using a third-party service, does that mean it no longer has my information?
Not necessarily. Discontinuing a service does not automatically tell you what happens to information you previously provided.
Review the third party's privacy and data-retention policies and, when available, its account deletion or data-removal options to understand how previously collected information is handled.
Are all third-party financial apps and AI tools unsafe?
No. The concern isn't simply that a service uses artificial intelligence or that it was developed by a third party.
The important distinction is how the service accesses your financial information.
TowneBank's guidance is straightforward: do not give an outside service your TowneBank Online Banking username, password, authentication codes, or other private sign-in credentials.
How can I better protect my Online Banking account?
A few good security habits can make a meaningful difference:
- Keep your Online Banking username and password private.
- Never provide authentication or verification codes to an unexpected requester.
- Use a strong, unique password for Online Banking.
- Be cautious of unexpected requests for financial or personal information.
- Review your account activity regularly.
- Keep your contact information current so TowneBank can reach you when necessary.
- Contact TowneBank if you notice activity you don't recognize.
What if I'm unsure whether a service should have access to my account?
Don't share your credentials.
If you are uncertain about a request involving your TowneBank account or Online Banking credentials, contact TowneBank through a trusted channel before proceeding.
Your Credentials Are Yours. Keep Them Private.
New technology will continue to change the way we manage our financial lives, but protecting access to your accounts remains just as important. TowneBank encourages you to be thoughtful about the services you use, understand how your information will be handled, and never share your Online Banking credentials with an outside service or AI agent.