Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October 1, 2024
Staying Safe Online is Easier Than You Think! Every day we are more and more connected—whether messaging family and friends, shopping online or ordering supplies for our small businesses. It’s important to take steps to stay safe when using our phones, laptops and smart devices. The Cybersecurity & Infrastruction Security Agency of the United States of America, also known as CISA, provides important information to help.
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Their "We can Secure Our World" resources provide simple actions you can take each day when connected that will help you stop cyber crime. 

Secure Our World:  Four Easy Ways to Stay Safe Online

Online criminals look for easy targets, like people who don’t take basic precautions. If we take the following four steps, we won’t be as vulnerable to their deceptive tactics. It will be much harder to scam us or steal our information. 

Phishing often tries to get us to open a harmful attachment or share personal information. Learn what to look for to avoid the "phish hook."

Using strong passwords and a password manager are some easy ways to protect ourselves from someone logging into an account and stealing data or money.

​Multifactor authentication means using more than a password to access an app or account. With MFA, we might be asked to enter a text code or use a fingerprint. It makes us much safer from someone accessing our accounts.

Don't delay software updates. Flaws in software can give criminals access to files or accounts. Programmers fix these flaws as soon as they can, but we must install updates for the latest protection!​

 

Simple Steps to Protect Your Family

The following video illustrates how easy it is to protect yourselves from cyber criminals.

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(direct link to YouTube video above:  https://youtu.be/4E6a-8HuccA?si=DPr_SjhMo6MjqqQC )

 

Other Resources

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CISA Resources - Learn more about the four ways to stay safe online with Tip Sheets, translated in various languages, and other resources.

CISA Resources 

 

BCT Online Security - How to protect your bank accounts, what steps to take should your accounts be compromised, what steps to take should your identity be stolen, how to contact credit bureaus, and more helpful information directly related to BCT.

BCT Online Security

 
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About the Company

Founded in 1871, BCT - Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:PTBS). With approximately $877 million in assets as of December 31, 2024, the Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and two loan production offices.  BCT’s offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun and Stafford Counties (VA).   The Bank offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction loans, commercial real estate loans, agricultural loans, and government contractor loans.  The Bank is also a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender.  The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit.  For over 70 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided caring and personalized trust services, growing into a premier financial management, investments, and estate services provider.  The Bank also provides convenient online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments plus free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint® network plus another approximately 675 free access ATMs through another partnership.  BCT was voted WINNER in the LoudounNow 2024 Loudoun’s Favorites readers’ poll in four categories:  Bank, Mortgage Company, Banker, and Financial Planner.  In 2023, American Banker selected BCT as a “Top 200 Community Bank,” an annual listing of the best performing banks in the United States with assets under $2 billion.  BCT was voted a “Best of the Best” winner in the 2023 Journal-News Readers’ Choice Awards in four categories:  Bank, Mortgage Company, Loan Services, and Financial Planning.  The Bank was named a “Best Bank To Work For” by American Banker five of the last six years.

The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank.