Security and Confidentiality
How we keep your information confidential
At AgStar, we make protecting your privacy a top priority, and hold your financial and personal information in strict confidence. In fact, some say we are overly cautious. That's fine with us. After all, we are protecting your account information.
Our employees must comply with federal regulations that prohibit unauthorized use of your information. We do not sell your information to third parties. In addition, unless we are required by law, we do not provide your information to anyone (including your accountant or attorney) without your authorization.
The user submits information gathered on this site. It may include financial and personal information specific to contacting us, or a lease or loan application. It may also include information specific to your AgStar accounts that are necessary for online banking.
How we protect your privacy in Online Banking
We take many precautions to protect your privacy when you do business with us through Online Banking.
Browser encryption
The Online Banking system uses advanced encryption technology to ensure your information stays safe and secure. If you have any questions, please contact us at 800-705-6603 or email Contact@AgStar.com.
Enrollment
Access to your account through Online Banking requires a thorough enrollment process to assure that you alone receive information about your account. After you complete the online enrollment process, you will receive an email once your enrollment has been successfully processed. This enrollment process helps assure your privacy.
Password
We've made our password selection and verification parameters stringent to reduce the potential for security breaches. You will need to select a password that meets the following criteria:
- 8 to 15 characters
- At least 4 letters
- At least 2 numbers
- Same character can be used a maximum of 3 times
- No symbols or special characters allowed in passwords
- Do not use your username or your first or last name
These criteria may make a password more difficult to remember, but they also make unauthorized access to your account far more difficult as well. Passwords are encrypted on our system, and they are not accessible to AgStar employees. No one connected with this web site or AgStar will ever ask you for your password. If you receive such a request, please report it to us immediately by secure messaging.
Of course, you must protect the confidentiality of your password. Do not give it to others, and do not keep it in a place where others may have access to it. If you suspect that your password is lost or stolen, or that someone made an unauthorized transaction on your account, please notify us at once. You should also change your password immediately. You can do this online. In fact, you should change your password periodically, at least a few times a year, even if you have no reason to think it was compromised. This is important because AgStar will process any transaction authorized by anyone using your password.
Software safeguards
A "timeout" feature shuts down access to your account to keep others from viewing your data after you leave your computer. If your browser is open to Online Banking and is idle for 5 minutes, you’ll receive a warning message asking whether to keep your session active or log out. The warning message will display for 1 minute, after which you’ll be automatically logged out of the system. To thwart would-be hackers, your account will be inaccessible after three unsuccessful login attempts. For help reactivating your account, call us at 800-705-6603. All activities are electronically logged, so both you and AgStar can review them in case of any suspicious activity
Secure electronic messages
You can feel confident that your communication with us is protected and secure when you use the "Contact Us" option after logging onto your account. We use a secure electronic system to keep information confidential. AgStar will respond to all inquiries to your email address in the Online Banking system. It is important to keep this email address current. No confidential information will be sent via email.
Firewall
The only way to access AgStar customer account information is through the secured section of our web site, which is protected by a "firewall." A firewall is part of our security system that helps prevent hackers or other unauthorized people from breaking into our computer systems.
How you can help
- Keep your password confidential and safe. Consider changing it periodically for added protection.
- Sign off of your account before walking away from your computer or before visiting other Internet sites.
- Use secure electronic messaging (via “Contact Us”), rather than your regular Internet e-mail for communicating with AgStar.
- Report to us immediately: a lost or stolen password. Also report any suspicious or unauthorized transactions, including a request for your password that appears to come from AgStar.