Schedule an appointment to discuss our Advance Consent Agreement with an Ascend representative by visiting any of our 28 Middle Tennessee branches or going to ascend.org/schedule.

Financial fraud is an ongoing concern for elderly individuals, but it doesn’t have to impact you or your loved ones. At Ascend Federal Credit Union, we’re your partner in financial safety. We’re always looking out for suspicious activity impacting our members’ accounts and have the resources to help keep your personal information secure.

Ascend is committed to continuously exploring new ways to help protect our members from financial fraud. To that end, we have introduced valuable tools to help keep our members’ private account information safe, including:

Digital banking resources – Ascend Digital Banking is your one-stop shop for account security, all available at your fingertips on our website or mobile banking app. Inside Ascend Digital Banking, you can do more than just view your account balance — easily set up card controls, submit travel notices, view your credit history, create custom account and fraud alerts, and much more.

Advance Consent Agreement – All Ascend members aged 65 or older can benefit from an extra layer of account protection with our Advance Consent Agreement. By opting in, members authorize Ascend to contact a listed “trusted contact” in the event Ascend suspects fraud or abuse. If you haven’t already, consider opting in to the Ascend Advance Consent Agreement or discuss it with your loved ones. Get more details from an Ascend representative by visiting any of our 28 Middle Tennessee branches or scheduling an appointment at ascend.org/schedule.

Criminals are constantly evolving the ways they try to obtain personal information, but there are a few basic practices to remember that can keep you safe from any fraud:

• Check your account statements and credit history regularly so you can catch any suspicious activity quickly and report it.

• Beware of spoofing, where criminals make themselves appear as anything on your Caller ID, even a trusted individual or business, to obtain your private information. Never give personal or financial information to anyone you don’t know over the phone, email, or text.

• Verify the validity of any emails or text messages before clicking on links or downloading attachments.

• Limit the amount of personal information you share on social media.

If you are a caregiver for an elderly person, there are a few ways to spot signs of financial abuse, such as if they have any unusual or unauthorized bank withdrawals, missing personal belongings, sudden changes to their will, unpaid bills or mounting debt, or if you notice any forged signatures on legal documents or checks. Suspected financial abuse should be reported immediately to law enforcement.

Alzheimer’s Tennessee also has resources for caregivers available on its website, including a 24/7 helpline with locally staffed providers that offer support, information, and referrals. Get more information, view their upcoming events, or donate to Alzheimer’s Tennessee at alztennessee.org.

At Ascend, the security of our members' finances is our top priority. If you have any concerns or questions regarding the security of your accounts or suspect any fraudulent activity, please contact our member service team at 800-342-3086. You can also visit our website for additional fraud prevention tips.