The security of your private information is important to us, and we want to help you keep it protected.

Dec 1, 2025  Smarter Life 

Explore Our Security Info and Tips

Smart Financial Will Never Ask For:

  • Your Password
  • Your Online Banking Code
  • Your PIN (Personal Identification Number)
  • Your Debit Card Number
  • Your Debit Card Expiration Date
  • Your CVV
  • Your Social Security Number
  • Your Text Code Confirmation Number

We have this information in our records and don't need to ask this of you. This is a way scammers and phishers get your information to gain fraudulent access to your account.

Contact us directly if you think you are being scammed or phished.

Protect Yourself

Criminals never quit. They are always looking for new ways to scam hard-working individuals. That means we always have to be on guard in protecting our financial information.

Also, monitor your accounts. Regularly check your account statements and alert us of any unauthorized transactions.

Protecting Your Confidential Information

Fraudsters are crafty and mimic legitimate organizations to make it seem like the email, or phone call is from a genuine firm. For this reason, it is critical to be cautious when opening any unsolicited email or taking a call.

Identifying Attempts To Defraud

Zelle

What You Need To Know

  • Sending money through Zelle is the same as handing someone cash. Once the money has left your account, you cannot get it back, so verify it is the correct person before you send it.
  • Smart Financial will NEVER call, text or email asking for a Zelle verification code.
  • For added security, update your Zelle profile with both your email and phone number. Phone

What Smart Financial Won't Ask

  • Smart Financial will NEVER call, text, or email asking for your password or PIN on your account or debit card.
  • Smart Financial will not call you and ask for your user ID or mobile/online password.
  • Smart Financial will not call and ask for your complete social security, account, or debit card numbers. When Smart Financial contacts you, we already have this information.

What Smart Financial Does Ask

  • Smart Financial will ask you security questions to verify your identity to know we are speaking with you.
  • If you call us, Smart Financial will ask security questions and ask you to verify and update your address, phone and email so that we have current information to contact you if necessary.
  • If there is suspicious activity on your account, Smart Financial will provide the transaction information and ask if this was you. We will not ask for CVV numbers, PINs or passwords during this conversation.

What Can You Do

Whenever you are suspicious or just worried if a call is from Smart Financial, ask for the individual's name and let them know you want to call them back. A legitimate Smart Financial representative will encourage you to take the extra protective step. Call our main line (713) 850-1600 and you will be transferred to the appropriate representative. While criminals may be able to spoof the number to make the call appear to be from Smart Financial, they can't divert direct calls to us.

Email

Fraudulent emails (referred to as phishing) mimic legitimate companies and often try to create a sense of urgency to resolve an issue on your account. Clicking a link can access your computer, allowing thieves to capture data and record keystrokes to steal your identity and sensitive information.

Some signs an email might be phishing are:

  • Obvious errors in spelling and grammar.
  • Warnings your account will be temporarily suspended or closed, or you will be subject to legal proceedings if you don't respond. What Smart Financial Won't Request
  • Smart Financial will NEVER text or email asking for your password or PIN on your account or debit card.
  • Smart Financial will not email or text you and ask for your user ID or mobile/online password.
  • Smart Financial will not email, text or call and ask for your complete social security, account, or debit card numbers. When Smart Financial contacts you, we already have this information.

What Can You Do

  • Go directly to your account through your app or standard URL to log in to your account. Don't click on links in an email.

  • While we do send links in emails for your convenience, you can always go directly to www.smartcu.org and use the search box for a product or offer.

  • Never put confidential information into a form, email or reply email.

  • Requests for confidential information from you only come if you initiated a loan or service request first. You will always be provided a secure channel option to transmit personal data.

  • Never use the Remember Me feature on a shared or public computer.

  • When unsure, give us a call on our direct line 713-850-1600 and we can help you.

Texting

Text or Short Message Service (SMS) is not exempt from fraud attempts (commonly referred to as smishing). Fraudsters often send links to a spoof website or ask you to call a number. Simply clicking the link can lead to issues such as downloading malware.   

What Smart Financial Won't Request

  • We won't ask you to renew your banking service – fraudsters often indicate that online banking services have or will expire. You are provided a link to a spoofed site that prompts you to enter your account credentials.

What Smart Financial Does Ask

  • Smart Financial does send text alerts to confirm you made a purchase on your debit or credit card. We provide the amount and the place of purchase. We request you reply to the text indicating if the purchase was you or is fraudulent.
  • If you have indicated text is your preferred contact method, we may reach out to you via text. If you are uncertain this is a legitimate text, you can always reach out to us at 713-850-1600, via email at infomain@smartcu.org, or through the call or email button in your Smart Financial mobile app.

What Can You Do

Set alerts on your account to monitor activity. You select what type of notifications you wish to receive and can change them at any time. Login to your account at www.smartcu.org, click on More, Financial Tools, Alerts, and Account then select your alert preferences.

What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Fraud

If you suspect your information is compromised:

Smarter Life Habits
Previous ArticleBudgeting for Inflation
Next ArticleHomebuying Tips