Ever wish you could get real-time updates on your finances – or that there was an easier way to catch and prevent fraud? With First Merchants Bank text alerts, you can!
In this article, we’ll walk you through what bank text alerts are – whether you need low-balance notifications for fraud alert texts – and how they can help you prosper. While they may encourage you to log in to check on your account, alerts from First Merchants will not ask for your username, password, social security number, or account number. We recommend you save the short codes we use to send these messages to your phone so you know immediately that a text alert is coming from First Merchants.
All About Bank Text Alerts
An account text alert is a service offered by many banks and financial institutions that will send important account information directly to your phone via text. Usually, you enable these banking text alerts through your online banking portal.
With First Merchants Bank mobile alert texts, you can customize what types of alerts you receive and prioritize what is important to you.
With text message alerts, you can:
- Get low-balance notifications.
- Be informed if transactions go over a pre-set spending limit.
- Get alerted if your account is used outside of your chosen geographical area.
- Be warned of suspicious activity.
How to set up bank text alerts
You’ll need access to our mobile app or online banking portal to set up mobile text alerts with First Merchants Bank. Signing up is easy and can be done in the app – available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store – or on our website.
Once you have access, log in and follow the steps below!
On Mobile:
- In your mobile app, click “More.”
- Go to “Settings.”
- Scroll down to “Preferences.”
- Click “Alert Settings.”
- Click “Edit Delivery Preferences” and enter the phone number and e-mail address where you want to receive alerts.
- Once that is submitted, go back to the “Alert Settings” page.
- You’ll notice some of the alerts are toggled on and greyed out – these are alerts First Merchants has turned on automatically as part of our dependable account security.
- Scroll down the list and click the slider to the left to turn on any alerts you’d like.
- You will be asked for your delivery preference for each alert–choose between voice, text, or e-mail alerts.
In Your Online Banking Portal:
- Go to “Settings.”
- Scroll down to “Preferences.”
- Click “Alert Settings.”
- Click “Edit Delivery Preferences” and enter the phone number and e-mail address where you want to receive alerts.
- Once that is submitted, go back to the “Alert Settings” page.
- You’ll notice some of the alerts are toggled on and greyed out – these are alerts First Merchants has turned on automatically as part of our dependable account security.
- Scroll down the list and click the slider to the left to turn on any alerts you’d like.
- You will be asked for your delivery preference for each alert–choose between voice, text, or e-mail alerts.
Once you’ve toggled on your preferred alerts, you’re all set!
Fraud Prevention
How can an alert text aid in fraud prevention? Rick Clark, Director of Information Security with First Merchants Bank, weighs in.
“Account alerts are a key part of online banking fraud prevention because they alert our customers to activity occurring on their account that they might not be aware of,” he explained.
While banks are vigilant and constantly on the lookout for suspicious activity, only one person can unequivocally instantly confirm whether a purchase or any account activity is fraudulent – you.
Rick lays out the example of someone trying to gain access to your account.
“With account alerts, you could know instantly if someone makes an unsuccessful sign-in attempt on your account,” he said. “You could know instantly if someone makes a successful sign-in attempt. Instead of waiting until they make a purchase or transfer money out of your account, you could immediately call your bank, inform them of the breach, and prevent that account takeover. So turning those alerts on goes a long way to preventing online banking fraud.”
If you have purchase alerts, you’ll also receive a notification whenever your card is charged – making it easy to spot and report fraudulent purchases.
Want to know more about how to prevent online banking fraud? Check out our Security Center for tips, tricks, and information on the latest scams.
Other Ways Text Alerts Can Help You Prosper
If the possibility of preventing fraud doesn’t have you convinced – how about the potential to save money?
With account alerts, you can receive a low balance notification when you have a bank account with a low balance. This can help you avoid minimum deposit fees or save you from accidental overdrafts.
And, if multiple people share an account, account alerts can help ensure everyone is kept abreast of any important account changes.
“This can be especially important if you have adult children jointly holding an account with a parent as part of a caretaker role,” Rick said. “Or if you’re a parent yourself, jointly holding an account with a child. It means an extra set of eyes on an account, so you can make sure that person is protected.”
Text Safety
As a reminder, our texts will never:
- Ask you for your social security number.
- Ask you for your account number.
- Ask you for your username or password.
- Pressure you into making an immediate payment.
Suspicious messages:
- Will not come from one of our verified numbers.
- May come from an unusually long number.
- May contain misspelled words or incorrect grammar.
If you still aren’t sure, give us a call to ask for confirmation at 1.800.205.3464.
Other Resources
If you have questions about your account or how to set up text and e-mail alerts, we encourage you to reach out to our attentive Customer Care team at 1.800.205.3464 or visit your welcoming local banking center.
