Creating Secure Passwords

Your online banking password does more than log you into your account; it helps protect your money and personal information from fraud. That’s why creating a strong, unique password is one of the simplest ways to strengthen your account security. While Legacy Bank uses multiple layers of security to protect customer information, choosing a secure password is also important for safeguarding your accounts. Here are the best password practices to help protect your financial information, according to fraud prevention experts.

Use Long, Unique Passphrases

When creating a password, think beyond a single word. Longer passwords or passphrases made up of multiple unrelated words are typically more difficult for cybercriminals to crack than shorter, simpler passwords. Aim for a password that’s at least 12 characters long and includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid common words or predictable substitutions, such as replacing the letter “S” with “$.”

Example: “Leg@cyB@nking4U” is much stronger than “Legacy123”.

Avoid Personal Information

While it may be tempting to use information that’s easy to remember, personal details can also be easier for fraudsters to guess. Avoid using birthdays, addresses, phone numbers, pet names, children’s names, or other information that may be publicly available through social media or a quick online search. In short, the less personal your password is, the more secure it will likely be.

Use a Password Generator or Password Manager

We understand that managing multiple strong passwords can be difficult, especially when many of your online accounts require unique login credentials. Fortunately, there are tools that can help. A reputable password manager can generate strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and securely store them, so you don’t have to remember every password yourself. This is particularly helpful when your brain has no more password combinations left to give. While we encourage you to do your own research and find a trusted password manager that works for you, popular options include 1Password and Keeper!

Opt Into Multi-Factor Authentication

Whenever possible, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your online banking profile and other important online services. MFA requires an additional verification step, such as a one-time code sent to your phone, approval through an authentication app, or biometric verification, before you can sign in. While it only takes a few extra seconds, this added security measure can make a significant difference in protecting your information. Even if someone obtains your password, they would still need the second verification method to access your information, helping reduce the risk of unauthorized access and fraud.

Don’t Reuse Passwords

If there’s one tip on this list that most people struggle with, it’s this one. Creating a unique password for every account may seem inconvenient, but it’s one of the most effective ways to help protect your personal and financial information. Here’s why: if one of your online accounts is involved in a data breach, hackers often try those same login credentials on other websites, including banking, email, shopping, and social media platforms. If you’ve reused that password elsewhere, multiple accounts could become vulnerable.

Using a different password for every login helps limit the impact of a compromised password and better protects your financial information. And if remembering dozens of unique passwords sounds impossible, that’s exactly why password managers can be such a valuable security tool.

Know When It’s Time to Update Your Passwords

Changing your passwords every few months isn’t necessarily the best way to protect your information. Instead, focus on creating strong, unique passwords and know when it’s time to update them. If you suspect one of your accounts has been compromised, receive a notification about a data breach, or realize you’ve reused the same password across multiple websites, change it as soon as possible. Taking a few minutes to update your password can go a long way toward protecting your financial information.