Our Fraud Guarantee

Our Fraud Guarantee works to protect you and your money when you bank with us, whether that's online, via the app, over the phone or in branch.

If you happen to fall victim to fraudulent activity, we guarantee to refund your loss as long as you've not acted fraudulently, and you've taken reasonable steps to keep your details safe.

How we help

However you choose to bank with us, you can be sure you are protected. Our fraud prevention methods include:

• We use advanced technologies and specially developed fraud detection systems to spot unusual activity on your account
• We use card readers and security tokens as they provide you with an additional layer of protection when you bank online and make payments. They're a free tool that helps us to verify your identity and protect your accounts
• We also use a timed logout system on our online banking service. This means that after a certain period of inactivity, you will be automatically logged out of online banking
• We offer free security software to protect you when you use online banking
• We use a secure automated message service to contact you if we're worried about a payment you've issued.

In the unlikely event you fall victim to fraud we'll refund your money as long as you've taken reasonable steps to keep your details safe. If you have not attempted to keep your details safe, we will not refund you any money.

How you can protect yourself

We do everything we can to keep you safe and secure. However, there are common threats that you can be aware of and some simple steps you can take to help protect yourself from fraud. Learn more about keeping your information and account safe.

If you are asked to make a payment, it is your responsibility to make sure the request is genuine before you authorise it. Please be aware of seemingly random requests to move money, or requests that are from people or companies you haven't dealt with before. If this happens, it is often a sign that you are being tricked.

Each situation will be assessed on an individual basis. We can't refund payments you have authorised when you have been tricked or scammed.

For example we are not likely to refund you if:

• You have not adhered to the security requirements set out in the terms and conditions of your account
• You ask us to make a payment because of a fraudulent instruction from a third party
• You instruct us to make a payment whilst under the influence of a fraudster or a scam. This could be after we‘ve queried the payment
• You fail to keep your card and PIN safe
• You fail to keep your online and telephone banking passwords including card reader authentication codes safe
• You fail to let us know as soon as possible of any security breach or potential security problem, e.g. the loss of your card
• You have provided us with incorrect payments instructions
• You have not exercised all due care and diligence when allowing an authorised Third Party Provider (TPP) access to your account
• You have acted fraudulently.

Remember that a genuine bank or organisation will never contact you randomly to ask for your PIN, full password or to move money to another account as part of an investigation.

Don't give out personal or financial details unless it is to use a service that you have signed up to, and you're sure that the request for your information is directly related.