Mobile phones may replace ATM cards

The idea of card-less ATM is a bit of a radical thought. However, in the near future, the multitasking mobile phone could also be the equivalent of owning a bank account. The cell phone is likely to replace good old ATM cards as the instrument to withdraw or deposit cash. Some banks are already piloting the technology and commercial deployments may begin later this year.

ICICI Bank, for instance, has been experimenting with card-less transactions, although it is not known which company’s technology platform they use. The bank has recently launched, on a pilot scale, a new technology that allows card-less remittance.

Bengaluru-based mobile payment solution provider mChek is one firm working with banks in India and abroad to roll-out its card-less technology platform. The firm, which had thus far focused on mobile bill payment, recharge, flight bookings, and movie ticketing, says mobile phones can be the second level of authentication, beyond passwords, for establishing identities. Using two levels, rather than just one, implies a greater level of assurance. [Read story at searchandhra.com].

Taking a Lesson From Iowa Flooding

Have you noticed that Cedar Rapids is under 10 feet of water?
Have you noticed thousands upon thousands of people are STILL displaced?
Have you noticed that nobody is looting every empty property in site?
Have you noticed that nobody is shooting at rescuers?
Have you noticed there are no victims on TV wondering when the federal government is going to 'take care of them'?
Have you noticed the victims who have lost everything, making comments like 'life goes on', 'we'll just need to pick up the pieces and start over', and 'at least we still have our life'.
Have you noticed it's not at all like Katrina?

Biometrics Stems Driver's License Fraud

When an Illinois driver gets his or her photo taken at a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the picture is sent to an enormous database and compared to other photos to find potential identity fraud.

The Illinois DMV's biometric-based facial recognition technology is part of a growing trend that has spread to approximately 20 states. Biometrics is the study of methods for recognizing individuals based on one or more physical or behavioral traits.

Illinois has been a leader in facial recognition programs at DMVs. It was among the first in the country to adopt such a program and has become a model for other states. The Illinois program has been a huge success, finding more than 5,000 cases of identity fraud from 1997 to 2007. Of the cases, 4,600 involved people with one fraudulent identification, and 600 cases involved people with two or more fraudulent identifications.

New Biometric Standard for Financial Services

Financial institutions have been slow to deploy biometrics for authentication, but a new biometric standard for financial services could boost adoption.

Biometrics -- the science of identifying individuals by their unique physical traits, such as fingerprint, iris and voice patterns -- always has been cutting-edge technology. Sexy, even. But practical for the banking industry?

Now, however, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has established a standard security framework, ISO 19092:2008, for the use of biometric authentication of individuals in the financial services industry. According to the ISO, the framework introduces the types of biometric technologies and addresses issues concerning their application. ISO 19092:2008 also describes architectures for implementation and provides recommendations for suitable use.

Read more at: http://www.banktech.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=208700738

Odd Things Airlines Are Doing to Reduce Weight (and Save Fuel)

No, nobody’s weighing the passengers…yet. But airlines are doing all sorts of imaginative things to drop pounds off a plane, to save fuel. Here’s a partial listing from the International Herald Tribune.

- Japan Airlines suspends beer sales on domestic flights

- Cathay Pacific strips paint off some planes (paint can weigh 440 lbs on a 747)

- American swaps old drink carts for new models (17 lbs lighter)

- Northwest is putting 25% less water in bathrooms on international flights (water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon)

It all adds up: Southwest figures that, since it began washing some of its jet engines on a nightly basis last April (to reduce “drag” caused by dirt), its saved $1.6 million in fuel costs.

Bank robberies on the rise across U.S.; Bank of America CSO says economy may be to blame

Bank robberies are up in cities across the USA this year and, although the reason is unclear, the down economy is a suspect.

"The economy is driving some of this," says Chris Swecker, chief security officer for Bank of America and former assistant director of the FBI's criminal division. "We're even getting some anecdotal stuff from bank robbers."

Swecker said Bank of America analysts study the interplay between the increase in bank heists and foreclosures, credit defaults and unemployment rates.

"We haven't drawn any conclusions yet, but we are certainly looking at it," he said.
The Los Angeles metro area has had 189 bank robberies this year, compared with 156 at the same point last year, according to FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

Elsewhere:

*In San Francisco, bank robberies jumped from 20 in the first five months of 2007 to 32 for the same period in 2008, said Sgt. Wilfred Williams, spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department.

*Bank robberies in the Houston metro area more than doubled in 2007 to 115, and the city is on pace to match -- or break -- that mark with 51 robberies already, said Detective Robert Schobey of the Houston FBI Joint Bank Robbery Task Force.

Life Before Computers...

An application was for employment
A program was a TV show
A cursor used profanity
A keyboard was a piano!
Memory was something that you lost with age
A CD was a bank account
And if you had a 3 1/2 inch floppy
You hoped nobody found out!
Compress was something you did to garbage
Not something you did to a file
And if you unzipped anything in public
You'd be in jail for awhile!
Log on was adding wood to a fire
Hard drive was a long trip on the road
A mouse pad was where a mouse lived
And a backup happened to your commode!
Cut - you did with a pocket knife
Paste you did with glue
A web was a spider's home
And a virus was the flu!
I guess I'll stick to my pad and paper
And the memory in my head
I hear nobody's been killed in a computer crash
But when it happens they wish they were dead!

Top 10 annoying workplace habits

A buddy of mine recently asked to have his cubicle reassigned because the woman next to him was a loud phone talker. You know the type: they speak at normal human decibels in real life, but when they get on the phone, they can't help but shout. Sometimes I worry I'm slightly in that camp; I blame mild hearing loss due to living with a clarinet player who insists on practicing the E-flat in front of the Yankee game.

We came up with our own list. Suggestions in the comments area, please.

1. You're Unprepared: "Showing up for meetings, interviews or arranged work sessions without the equipment or data that you need demonstrates a lack of respect for your coworkers and yourself," says Star. "And it wastes time. Get off on the right foot, and make like a scout and be prepared."

2. You're Not a Team Player: "You have to be willing to pitch in when another member of the team needs help," Star says. "There's nothing more annoying than watching somebody do a crossword puzzle while you're buried in work." And if a coworker needs a little time off to run an important errand, be flexible and help out when you can, she suggests.

3. You're Not Self-Reliant: Only ask for help when you really need it. "Giving up on the paper jam after only one try and expecting a coworker to fix it because you know she can does not contribute to good team spirit," says Star. Try everything you can to solve your own problem before involving somebody else.

4. You, Umm, Smell: Your scent is important, especially when you're working in a small, poorly ventilated space with lots of other people around. Be considerate of your neighbors by taking care not to generate strong smells that will permeate their space.

For instance, don't eat eggs or onions in the office, Star suggests. And if you smoke, be sure you air yourself out before you walk back in the office. The same goes for colognes. "Fragrance is a very personal choice, so it should be reserved for those who are close to you, not 20 yards away," says Star.

5. You're Loud on the Phone: Loud telephone conversations can be offensive to your neighbors, so try to keep your voice low and even. And keep personal calls short. "Phone fights or, worse yet, phone foreplay can really drive one up a wall after a certain point," says Star. "Remember that you are not in your living room."

6. You're Unhealthy: If you're sick, stay home. If you have the sniffles or must come in, cover your mouth and do whatever you can to avoid infecting your coworkers.

7. You Walk Like an Elephant: Try to move around the office quietly to avoid disturbing the people around you. And if you must speak to another colleague, keep your voice down.

8. Your Cell Phone Is Always On: Unless absolutely necessary, cell phones should be turned off while you're in the office. If you need to keep your phone on, use a soft or silent ringer or vibrate mode.

9. Your Computer Volume Is Blasting: Nobody wants to hear somebody else's bells and whistles when they're trying to concentrate.

10. You Shake Hands Like a Fish and Avoid Eye Contact: "When somebody won't look me in the eye or give me some energy in their handshake, I feel like they're avoiding me or snubbing me in some way," Star says. "I like a firm handshake and a friendly smile."

Protect Security Without Spending

As a proactive security pro your ability to securely manage users, systems and data, and to protect your organization from external (and internal) attacks is an obvious and ongoing challenge. Here are just a few information security facts that you need to know:

-- When an organization suffers a data breach, it costs approximately $197 per lost record. That means if your company lost 100,000 records, it would cost you close to $20 million.

-- 66% of US employees write down their passwords in unsafe places.

-- Last year, 3.2 billion was lost to Phishing attacks.

-- In the last 2 years over 100 million proprietary records have been lost or stolen.

-- 90% of security attacks can be avoided without the increase of security spending.

Fort Lauderdale banks, businesses impose headwear ban

It's an all-too-common image from bank surveillance footage: a robber wearing a hat, sunglasses or both, walks up to a teller, passes a note, and walks away with cash.

Detectives says the accessories can serve as effective disguises and deterrents to catching the bad guys.

Now, some banks and other businesses are fighting back by posting signs telling customers to remove hats and sunglasses. The real message: Let's see your face so if you rob us, police can track you down.

"It's sort of a no-nonsense, simple solution to an ever-increasing problem that Florida is facing," said Renee Thompson, spokeswoman for The Florida Bankers' Association, which launched a "no hats, no hoods, no sunglasses" robbery deterrent program in January. "We're optimistic that customers will understand the importance of the program."

Customers who refuse to comply will not be denied service, the association said. They'll simply be served in an area of the bank with more security or by an experienced teller.

The "no hats" effort is the result of a surge in Florida robberies last year that industry and law enforcement officials hope to stave off. In 2007, Florida had 361 bank robberies that cost banks more than $2.4 million, according to the Florida Bankers Association. That was an increase of almost 40 percent from 2006.

Iowa Credit Union Growth Commission Focuses on Five Key Areas to Help Stimulate Growth in Iowa

The Iowa Credit Union Growth Commission, created by the Iowa Credit Union League Board of Directors in 2007, was formed to review industry trends and market research as it relates to credit union growth, with the ultimate goal ofofferingrecommendations for credit union growth strategies.

At a time when credit union membership growth in Iowa is generally stagnant, credit union members are aging, competition is increasing, margins are shrinking, and new markets are emerging, the Growth Commission recognized the need to focus on strategic, innovative and collaborative ways to serve Iowans in the future.

Comprised of 23 Iowa credit union leaders, the Growth Commission spent more than six months reviewing research and discussing the future of the credit union movement. Their meetings, facilitated by John Lass, Senior Vice President Product Development of CUNA Mutual Group, ultimately led to the identification of five key areas to help stimulate growth in Iowa. These concepts include:

Back office support
Human resources support
Marketing support
Mobile banking
Virtual bank

By the end of summer 2008, the goal is to complete market research to assess the needs of the marketplace, specifically for the back-office support, HR support, and marketing support. With the market research in place, the Iowa Credit Union League will conduct a financial analysis to determine the most viable solutions and will begin working on developing business plans and product launches only if there is a need and demand from credit unions.

CU's tough stance on ID theft commended in editorial

Using bogus official-looking e-mails and auto dialers, identity thieves have initiated several scams this year to try to trick IH Mississippi Valley CU's 85,000 members into disclosing their personal account information. The credit union's response has been lauded by a local newspaper.
The $601.7 million asset, Moline, Ill.-based credit union has immediately responded at least three times this year to thwart the scammers' attempts (Quad-Cities Times June 6).

The newspaper said in an editorial: "IH Mississippi Valley has been an ardent community supporter in addition to a successful credit union. We commend its extensive security and public information efforts to fight this scam head on. And we urge readers to follow the credit union's advice and contact it and the police if scammers hit again."

The credit union has been targeted with identity theft attempts with a frequency that is frustrating the credit union and its members, Laura Ernzen, IH Mississippi spokesperson, told the paper.

A few members have fallen for the scams, although none have endured permanent losses, she said. Federal authorities are investigating the scams, Ernzen added.

6 TRAVEL STRATEGIES for that $15 “First Checked Bag” Fee

1. USE A CARRY-ON BAG
Now is the time to finally ditch the big bag for a sleek carry-on. Do it!

2. SHIP AHEAD:
When a carry-on isn’t enough: need more room for gifts, sports equipment or boots and heavy coats? Ship ahead and have it waiting for you at your destination.

Check US Postal Service rates first: you’ll be surprised how cheap it can be. Do NOT ship anything overnight: you may pay more than the checked bag fee (avoid the “2nd day” rate, as well)

3. PACK YOUR CARRY-ON INTELLIGENTLY:
Chart your wardrobe
Figure out what outfit you’ll need each day of your trip: then go back and delete some (you’re not a movie star; you can wear the same thing twice)

What to pack
Reading material: choose paperbacks over hardcovers; better yet, magazines
Khakis: leave the jeans at home (denim is heavy)
Men only: it’s a vacation; do you really need a sport coat?

What not to pack
Toiletries: stop at the drugstore upon arrival and buy sample sizes
Shoes: only pack the ones you’ll really wear; “footwear options” is a luxury you can no longer afford

Also, check these “packing tips” from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

4. STAY AT MOTELS WITH SELF-LAUNDRY SERVICE
Do your own laundry: a single load will only take an hour of your vacation time, and allow you to further cut down your “packing list."
Stay with Mom: you know she’ll do your wash for you!

5. RESERVE YOUR SEAT EARLY
Avoid the “bin wars”: the sooner you reserve a seat, the sooner you can board (in many cases).
“Upgrade” for more legroom: you may find it comfortable and convenient to put your bag under the seat in front of you

6. GET TO THE AIRPORT EARLY
Don’t be among the last to board: there may be no bin space for your carry-on, or it may have to be stowed in a bin several rows behind you

Watch Your Car License Plates; Targeted by Gas Thieves

A woman said her son found his license plate missing so he called the police to file a report. They told him people were stealing the plates to get free gas. Given the rise in gas prices, people have taken to stealing license plates, putting them on their car, then getting gas and running. The gas station will have 'your' license plate # and you could be in trouble for 'pump and run.'

Check your car periodically to be sure you still have a plate. If you should find it missing, file a report immediately!!! Keep an eye on your license plate! Make sure you always know it's there! When the license plate is reported as the 'drive off vehicle', it's YOU they contact! Be aware!!!! Be aware of your license plates, most of us never look to see if the plates are there or not.