With our new Digital Banking Solution, you will need your account numbers in order to reset your username or password. It can be overwhelming to store such important and confidential information. We want to help you protect your information while also keeping it accessible for those times when you forget your password. This article will give you a few safe storage options to consider.

At Baker Boyer, we understand that you want to keep your information safe and out of the wrong hands. But how can you be sure you can readily get that information when YOU need it? With so many online and physical options, it can be difficult to locate important numbers, passwords, and key account information.

If the phrase “It’s so safe I don’t know where I put it?” sounds familiar to you, you are not alone.

It is important to consider your strategy for storing both physical and digital documents in a safe place. If you open an account online, you may never receive any physical documentation. Considering how to organize your digital copies of important documents is critical.

Some important information, such as your full bank account numbers, need to be both secured AND accessible to you. Your full bank account number may be needed for:  account verification, setting up transfers, and establishing new payments. 

Here are some options for storing account numbers and other important documents, both physically and digitally.

Option 1: Use a physical safe, whether at your home or at your bank.

At Baker Boyer, our first thought is a Safe Deposit Box. It’s secure and inexpensive, but it can be difficult to access documents that could be needed quickly, especially nowadays! You may want to consider a fireproof safe for your home for items you need immediate access to. If the safe is movable it should be secured to a floor or wall to prevent it from being stolen. 

Option 2: Utilize a digital storage technique

When considering digital storage, keep best practices for security and physical security of the devices you are using in mind. File folders with important documents should be encrypted, so only those who are authorized can open them. This adds another layer of security if someone accesses your physical computer or device. Windows and Mac operating systems offer encryption, and you can also purchase third-party encryption software. If you are utilizing physical digital storage-- such as a hard drive-- on your home computer, you should have a backup stored securely. This is important especially if there is no paper copy, in case of hard drive failure, fire, or theft. 

Remember the backpacker’s motto for important trail necessities like a flashlight – “two is one and one is none."  Always have two copies!

This article was contributed by Jan Brashear who is a member of our Digital Banking team.