Using BECU Account Alerts for Security Monitoring
BECU alerts provide timely text and email updates about your account activity. Setting up alerts can help you recognize suspicious transactions more quickly.
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Great for money management and budgeting, BECU account alerts are also an important security tool. When enabled, Online Banking alerts and mobile app notifications send you timely updates through text or email messages. Alerts are triggered by certain activity in your account, and you can customize them to your needs.
Seven Account Alerts That Can Help You Detect Fraud
You can enable as many of these Online Banking account alerts and BECU mobile app notifications as you want. Business members can also set up alerts in Business Online Banking and the BECU Business app. If you ever receive an alert about activity you don't recognize, contact us immediately.
- Prompts you when a payment is due.
- You can set up separate alerts for different loan accounts (credit cards, mortgage, lines of credit and vehicle loans).
- Contact BECU if you receive: A debt payment reminder alert for a loan you did not request.
- Alerts you when your account balance drops below a certain amount.
- You set the dollar amount that will trigger the notification.
- Contact BECU if: you receive a low balance alert unrelated to your own spending activity.
- Alerts you when you receive a deposit or an account credit (checking, savings, loan or credit card) above a certain amount.
- You set the dollar amount that will trigger the notification.
- Contact BECU if: you receive an alert about a deposit you don't recognize. While it might be tempting to stay quiet about "free money," an unexpected deposit needs investigating. It's usually best not to spend any money that suspiciously appears in your account. If the funds came from a fraudulent source, the deposit would be reversed and you'd be responsible for paying back any of that money you spent.
- Alerts you when a large expense is withdrawn from your checking or savings, or charged on credit card accounts enrolled in Money Manager, which is BECU's online money management tool.
- Contact BECU if: you receive an alert about an expense you don't recognize.
- Alerts you if you're ever charged an account fee (e.g., for using an out-of-network ATM, overdrawing your account, etc.).
- Contact BECU if: you receive a fee alert for activity you don't recognize.
- Alerts you if a transaction has posted to your account from another country.
- Contact BECU if: you receive this alert while you are in the U.S. and you don't recognize the activity.
- Alerts you if spending exceeds the budget amount you set in Money Manager.
- Contact BECU if: you receive an alert that doesn't accurately reflect your spending.
How To Set Up Account Alerts in Online Banking
Members and business members who operate as a sole proprietorship, LLC using a SSN for tax reporting, clubs, trusts and estates can set up and customize alerts in Online Banking and the BECU mobile app (where they are called notifications).* When you set up alerts in Online Banking, notifications are enabled in the mobile app and vice versa.
- Log in to Online Banking.
- Click Alerts in the upper right-hand corner on the blue bar at the top of the page.
- Follow the directions; ensure you verify your email or phone number.
Not enrolled in Online Banking? Learn how to sign up.
How To Set Up Account Notifications in the Mobile App
If you want to set up Online Banking from the app, tap "Join BECU," then tap "Already a member?" and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Log in to the BECU mobile app using your Online Banking username and password. If you don't have the app, download it from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
- Click on the menu in the upper right-hand corner.
- Select Settings; then Notifications.
- Toggle on the notifications you'd like. To customize those notifications, click Edit.
Other Alerts From BECU
Our systems continually monitor BECU debit and credit card activity. If we detect unusual patterns or abnormal card activity that might indicate fraud, you will receive a text message or automated call to alert you. Debit and credit card fraud alerts are automatic and don't need to be set up. However, we recommend you log in to Online Banking or contact BECU to make sure your phone numbers and email address are up to date and current.
Important reminder: BECU will never contact you by phone, text, or email and ask you to provide sensitive personal information like your PIN, card details, or Online Banking username and password.
Alerts Help You Detect Fraud Faster
Setting up alerts for different account activity - and paying attention when you receive them - can help you quickly identify any unexpected withdrawals, transfers, fees or low balances in your accounts. If you ever notice anything unusual, reporting it to BECU immediately can help stop or prevent fraud from occurring.
How Account Fraud Can Happen
Fraudsters could get ahold of your personally identifiable information (PII) in any number of ways, using different tactics and from various sources. Bad actors are good at staging convincing scams using social engineering to trick victims into sharing their PII and account information. In some cases, criminals obtain this information on the dark web, in data breaches, or from an unsecured Wi-Fi network.
If you encounter a scam and share your PII or account information, your account could be at risk. Not being vigilant about your digital security or having your identity stolen also places your account at risk. It's important to immediately report suspected fraud to BECU when you become aware of suspicious activity. The sooner we know about it, the faster we can block any further unauthorized access, set up your replacement accounts, and help with any required next steps.
Help Us Protect You
We are committed to safeguarding our members' accounts and personal information. You can help us in that effort by taking steps to protect yourself: follow cybersecurity best practices, learn about trending scams and how to prevent fraud, be aware of common tactics, and enable the account security features available for added protection — including account alerts.
Credit Report Monitoring and Alerts
You can also contact the three major credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert and freeze your credit report, which can help protect you from identity theft. Experts also recommend setting up alerts on retirement accounts and at any other financial institutions where you have accounts. Enabling multi-factor authentication whenever possible, using strong passwords and adding a code word are other important ways to protect your accounts and identity.
Contact BECU if You Suspect Fraud
We take your privacy and security very seriously. If you believe you've been a victim of fraud, contact us as soon as possible. Call 800-233-2328 or send a secure message in Online Banking or the mobile app. Visit our Fraud & Security Center for after-hours and TTY contact information.