ICBA and USPS Partner On Initiative to Combat Check Fraud

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has partnered with the US Postal Inspection Service on an initiative to combat the threat of check fraud.

Together, they will provide in-branch resources featuring detailed instructions to help consumers protect their financial assets and take action if they fall victim to check fraud.

The materials will focus on tips for preventing check fraud and safeguarding mail, including securely sending checks through Post Office letter slots or directly to a letter carrier, promptly retrieving mail, and avoiding leaving it in a mailbox overnight.

Bank customers are also advised to contact the sender if they don't receive their expected mail. Additionally, if they're going out of town, they should request the local Post Office to hold their mail until their return.

Additional tips to protect checks include using pens with indelible black ink and avoiding leaving black spaces on check to reduce the risk of alteration. It's also important to regularly monitor accounts through online or mobile banking and confirm that checks are reaching their intended recipients.

The initiative launch comes after a recent ICBA poll by Morning Consult found that one in five Americans have either experienced check fraud themselves or know someone who has.

Rebeca Romero Rainey, president and CEO of ICBA, said: “Community banks have long been the cornerstone of trust and security in their communities. 

“By partnering with the U. Postal Inspection Service, we are doubling down on our commitment to help consumers combat the escalating risks of check fraud. These new digital and print handouts will empower the face-to-face conversations bankers have with customers, provide actionable guidance, and reinforce the strong relationships that community banks are known for.”