|
We recommend using either Netscape Navigator (version 4.76 or higher) or Microsoft
Internet Explorer (version 5.0 or higher) for optimal viewing of this web
site, and take advantage of secure interactivity with our site. If you are
not using Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer you may wish
to download either one now. Visit http://www.microsoft.com or http://www.netscape.com
to download the appropriate the software.
When sending any application information online this site
automatically switches to a secure mode. This is evident
by the "https" that will appear in the url as opposed
to "http." If you are using Internet Explorer you
will see a locked pad lock at the bottom of your screen when
you are in a secure mode and an unlocked pad lock when you
are in an insecure mode.
In Microsoft Explorer when browsing securely, the browser will display a locked
padlock icon at the bottom of its open window, which looks like this: 
In Netscape Navigator when browsing securely the browser will display a locked
padlock icon at the bottom left of its open window, which looks like this: 
In Netscape Navigator when browsing insecurely that same padlock appears unlocked,
like this: 
Sterling Bank understands that the security of your personal and account information
is important to you. We also understand that our continued success as a financial
institution relies on both our ability to offer banking services to you in
a secure manner as well as your responsibility in keeping any access codes,
passwords or PINs secure. To assist us in offering these Web-based banking
services in a secure manner, we employ a number of measures, which are described
below. These measures allow us, among other benefits, to properly authenticate
your identity when you access these services and protect your information as
it traverses the Internet between your PC and Sterling Bank.
Log-In protection for the End User. Every end user must
privately maintain a combination of a password and Log-In
ID. Because the end user is assigned the original password
by the bank administrator, IBS (Internet Banking System)
forces the end user to change the password once logged onto
the system and before any transactions can be requested.
This forces the end user to establish an absolutely private
password. If the password is lost or forgotten, the administrator
will be able to reset a default password for the end user
once Sterling Bank has confirmed your identity.
Three (3) strikes and you're out. If an unauthorized person
attempts entry into an end user’s account by trying
to guess a Log-In ID, IBS will disable the password on the
third incorrect attempt, thus invalidating the Log-In combination.
If you accidentally activate this security feature by unintentionally
mis-keying a password three times, you would need to call
Sterling Bank to reestablish the password for that account.
For example, a common mistake made by the end user is having
the CAPS-LOCK on while keying in a password.
To further protect you, a timeout feature is used. This
feature will automatically log you out of your current financial
service session after a 10-minute period on our site. Sterling
Bank also requires the use of secure browsers to protect
you while you access our online financial services. More
specifically, the personal and account information that flows
back and forth between your PC and Sterling Bank must be
encrypted while in transit – secure browsers are how
we achieve this level of protection. Encryption is the process
of scrambling information (typically for data transmission)
so that it can only be reassembled in its original clear
text format by someone who has the correct encryption key
to do so. When used between you and Sterling Bank, this technology
encrypts your personal information as you send it to us,
which only Sterling Bank can decrypt. Likewise, when we send
personal or account information to you, this technology encrypts
it, which only you can decrypt.
|
