On March 12, 2024, Artisan’s Bank discovered suspicious activity related to an employee’s email account. In response, Artisans’ Bank quickly took steps to secure our email tenant and launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident. This investigation recently concluded and determined that between January 28, 2024 and March 12, 2024, an unknown, unauthorized actor had access to a limited number of Artisan’s Bank employee email accounts and potentially accessed and/or acquired certain information stored within the accounts.

If you received a letter, it is because the investigation into the incident determined that, at the time of the incident, your information was potentially present in the affected email accounts. The type of affected information is unique for each individual, and the letter you received lists the potential types of information related to you that could have been impacted by this event. At this time, Artisans’ Bank does not have any evidence that any individual’s information has been subject to actual or attempted misuse or fraud.

Upon learning of the incident, Artisans’ Bank quickly began an investigation, to determine the nature and scope of the incident and identify the information that was involved.

Artisans’ Bank takes this incident and the security of information in its care seriously. Upon learning of this incident, Artisans’ Bank moved quickly to investigate. This investigation and response included confirming the security of its systems, reviewing the contents of relevant files for sensitive information, and notifying impacted individuals. As part of its ongoing commitment to the privacy of personal information in its care, Artisans’ Bank is reviewing its policies, procedures, and processes related to the storage of, and access to, personal information, to reduce the likelihood of a similar future incident.

No. Notification of this incident does not mean you are the victim of identity theft or fraud. Artisans’ Bank is providing notice to those individuals whose personal information was potentially impacted by this incident out of an abundance of caution. At this time, there is no indication that anyone’s information has been subject to actual or attempted misuse in connection with this incident.

Artisans’ Bank takes the security of personal information in its care seriously. Artisans’ Bank conducted an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the information involved in this incident. After a diligent and comprehensive review to identify potentially affected information, Artisans’ Bank began notifying individuals as soon as reasonably possible, to inform them of the incident and let them know the nature of their information that was potentially affected.

Artisans’ Bank recommends that you remain vigilant and continue to monitor your accounts and explanation of benefits forms for unusual activity or any charges you did not make. While Artisans’ Bank is unaware of any misuse of information as a result of this incident, Artisans’ Bank encourages those individuals potentially impacted by this incident to protect against the possibility of identity theft and fraud by:

• Monitoring your financial statements carefully. If you see any unauthorized or suspicious activity, promptly contact your bank, credit union, or credit card company.
• Monitoring your credit reports for suspicious or unauthorized activity. Under U.S. law you are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report.
• Placing a fraud alert on your credit file. You have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on your file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Contact the three major credit bureaus directly to place a fraud alert on your credit file.
• Placing a security freeze on your credit file. A security freeze will prohibit a consumer reporting agency from releasing information in your credit report without your express authorization. The security freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a security freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a security freeze on your credit report. Contact the three major credit bureaus directly to place a security freeze on your credit file.
• Contacting the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General to learn more about identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes, and other steps you can take to protect yourself. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20580, www.identitytheft.gov, 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).
• Reporting incidents of suspected or actual identity theft or fraud to law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, and your state Attorney General.

An initial fraud alert is a one-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file at no cost to the consumer. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years.