KIB offers customers banking security tips during travel
As part of its commitment to offer the highest standards of banking safety, security, and protection for all its cardholders, Kuwait International Bank (KIB) has developed a comprehensive set of security tips, designed to help customers protect their bank information from fraudulent financial and banking activities while traveling, particularly during the holiday season.
In this context, Basil Al-Suwaidan, Head of Information Security at KIB, said: “KIB considers banking security awareness for its customers on the top of its priorities. For that reason, we have provided our customers with security travel tips, precautionary measures, and guidelines to follow in order to not become victims of fraud and deception, especially during this season. These fraudulent activities usually increase during this period of the year, as people are shopping, booking, accessing their online banking accounts or withdrawing money from ATMs outside of Kuwait.”
Al-Suwaidan also stressed that customers should check the validity of their credit cards, including expiration dates, to ensure that cards are active and with sufficient credit limits and account balance when traveling. Additionally, he urged customers to never write down their bank card pin numbers anywhere, and to not keep all their bank cards in one place, in order to protect them from possible loss or theft; instead, customers should have the KIB phone number easily accessible in case of any issues. He further added that customers are advised to activate the SMS notification, Mobile banking and online banking account services to easily follow up on their transactions on a constant basis.
Al-Suwaidan listed further recommendations to customers, such as using ATMs in visible, public areas, in case the Bank’s ATMs are not available. He also recommended that customers ensure that no unfamiliar devices or foreign objects are connected to ATMs, and that no individuals are observing them while withdrawing funds. To ensure further safety, Al-Suwaidan advised customers not to seek assistance from any stranger when withdrawing money.
Moreover, Al-Suwaidan advised customers to avoid using unsecured Wi-Fi or shared networks found in public areas, such as airports, cafes, and hotels, to access personal bank accounts. He also recommended that customers should regularly review transactions made on their bank accounts, change bank account passwords and pin numbers on a regular basis, and make payments using the local currency, to avoid additional exchange rate commissions.
In addition to offering customers an array of valuable tips to ensure the safety and security of their banking information during travel, Al-Suwaidan mentioned that KIB customers should not hesitate to call the around-the-clock AlDawli Weyak service.
The call center will assist customers facing any issues or difficulties with their bank cards, financial transactions, or in the case of losing their bank card; KIB will then take the necessary precautionary measures and cancel the bank card. He concluded by stressing the importance of banking security, particularly with the increasing prevalence and continuous advancement of financial fraud and electronic financial crimes, as credit card thieves and bank accounts fraudsters continue to develop more ways of bypassing security.
It is worth noting that KIB continuously strives to safeguard sensitive customer banking data by implementing the highest security standards and international best practices in information security. Accordingly, the Bank is able to provide its customers with highquality, secured banking services to all its customers, available during all times and at all places.