In my last entry, I listed five security steps employers can take to prevent employee theft. Many of these steps are also effective for securing member data at a financial institution’s branch.

In addition, credit union and bank executives should implement the following policies and procedures to secure member information.

Audit Those Desks
Be sure no account holder proprietary information is left on desks, fax machines or printers.

Avoid the Ad-Hoc Approach
Make sure you have a consistent information security policy in place and conduct regular staff training to ensure all procedures are being followed.

The Shredder is Your Friend
Regularly evaluate cardholder data and determine what needs stored and what doesn’t. You should never throw away documents containing account numbers, social security numbers, etc. Shred everything! (Think this is a no-brainer? Click here for a real-life example.)

Perform Checks & Balances
Keep a plastic inventory of the card stock onsite. Conduct a regular audit of those plastics to ensure there are not any plastics unaccounted for.