DFS Discover Financial Services

Continuing with its ATM/Debit Safety Awareness Month, this week the PULSE� debit network releases Debit Card Safety Tips. Although debit is a secure and convenient form of payment, it is a good idea for consumers to take some basic precautions when using their debit cards. As many consumers plan summer trips online, over the phone and in-person, there are a number of safety measures to keep in mind when providing financial information. Follow these step-by-step safety tips while making transactions: Debit Card Safety Keep your PIN personal: ATM transactions and PIN debit purchases require the use of a secret code known as a personal identification number or PIN. Memorize your PIN, never write it on your card or store it with your card. Never let someone else enter your PIN for you. Do not disclose information about your card or account over the telephone: No company or individual needs to know your PIN, not even your financial institution. If you perform transactions over the telephone using your debit card, never disclose your PIN. Never disclose information about your card in response to an unsolicited e-mail or request: E-mail is a common channel for fraudulent activity. Never provide your debit or credit card number, PIN or any other non-public personal information to any entity in response to an unsolicited e-mail or request. Your financial institution will never send an e-mail asking for your PIN. Make certain your Internet shopping or travel booking sites are secure: Use trusted sites or look for secure transaction symbols when shopping online to ensure your account information is protected. Always log off from any site after you make a purchase. If you can�t log off, shut down your browser to prevent unauthorized access to your account information. Protect your card�s magnetic stripe: Do not expose your card�s magnetic stripe to magnetic objects. Magnetic objects can damage your card. Report a lost or stolen card at once: Immediately call your financial institution if your card is lost or stolen to reduce the chance that it will be used improperly. Immediate notice of lost or stolen cards also will limit your potential liability for unauthorized transactions. Review your account statements for unauthorized transactions: Review all account statements from your financial institution promptly, or better yet, monitor your account through your financial institution�s online banking system. Report any errors (including transactions you believe may be unauthorized) as soon as possible. A comprehensive list of ATM/debit card safety tips is available at www.pulse-eft.com/public/group/consumer/atmdebitsafety.html. PULSE also offers a brochure containing fraud/identity theft prevention tips, which can be downloaded at www.pulse-eft.com/public/group/consumer/atmdebitsafety/idtheft.html. About PULSE PULSE is one of the nation�s leading ATM/debit networks, currently serving more than 4,500 banks, credit unions and savings institutions across the country. PULSE is owned by Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS). The network links cardholders with more than 265,000 ATMs, as well as POS terminals at retail locations nationwide. The company is also a valued resource for industry research related to electronic payments and is committed to providing its participants with education on evolving products, services and trends in the payments industry. For more information, visit www.pulse-eft.com.