Support Person: For individuals needing a support person when calling our Contact Centre or visiting a branch, Alterna will:

• Permit the support person on premises/on the phone
• Allow support person, if requested by the customer, to attend meetings
• Request permission from customer to discuss confidential account information with support person present
• Ensure the customer and support person understands that the support person is there to accompany the customer and therefore cannot direct or act for the customer

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Braille Statements: Can be requested through our Contact Centre by calling 1.866.560.0120 or if you opened your account in a branch, directly there.

Keeping safe when banking online

We are committed to providing you with a safe and secure banking experience that ensures the integrity of your account information. You also have a role to play in staying safe when transacting online.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. There are a variety of methods scammers use to take advantage of their victims. That’s why recognizing and understanding different types of fraud is your responsibility and can keep you and your finances safe. Click here to read more about avoiding scams.

You can learn more about how Alterna protects you and the role you play in protecting yourself by reviewing our: Security and Privacy section.

TIP: To keep up to date with the most recent scams targeting Canadians, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website, www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

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Once you’ve obtained your temporary password, log in to online banking with 4 easy steps:

• Go to Alterna’s Online Banking page
• Enter in your customer number where it says, “Login ID”
• Enter your temporary password where it says, “Password”
• Update your password and proceed to Online Banking

TIP: Create a Strong Password: It’s important to choose a unique word or phrase that you will remember. You should use a combination of both lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers and symbols (such as “!” or “?”). Remember, the more complex the password, the stronger it will be.

Online Banking and Mobile Banking Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

Further questions? Click here and select the “ONLINE & MOBILE BANKING” tab to review more FAQs regarding Online Banking and Mobile Banking.

Seniors Code

Alterna is committed to supporting seniors with their banking needs. We at Alterna have  in place all the requirements needed to meet the Code of Conduct for the Delivery of Banking Services to Seniors (“the Code”), which guides Canadian banks in their delivery of banking products and services to Canada’s seniors. 

Alterna regularly reviews and updates the policies, procedures and training regarding the Seniors Code. These are designed to help employees have a better understanding of how they can serve and communicate with senior customers,  how to protect them from financial abuse and other fraudulent activities, and provide details on how to escalate any concerns in this regard.

Our Seniors Champion leads the implementation and the compliance with the Code; builds awareness with Alterna employees of matters affecting seniors; and engages with seniors, organizations representing seniors and subject matter experts. 

 

 

Our public website and our internal information resources are available to increase visibility and education around banking for seniors. These include:

• The Senior Support Centre which is an online resource page which provides wide-ranging resources and support for seniors and their support persons. The resources include self-serve banking, banking package discounts, online fraud protection, financial planning, information on powers of attorney and joint accounts, accessibility options and helpful forms. As part of our annual Seniors Code review and as required, we update our website with new relevant information such as fraudulent activities and scams targeting seniors.
• Internal resources for employees to create greater awareness about the tools, training, policies and procedures available to help them assist and protect seniors.
• Annual mandatory training on the Seniors Code for all employees covering topics such as powers of attorney, joint deposit accounts, supporting seniors with diminished capacity, financial abuse, fraud, scams, financial harm identification, escalation processes, and the available resources for senior customers.
• The promotion of continuous learning by actively sharing examples of real-life scenarios and solutions and using these as coaching opportunities throughout the year.

Alterna Bank is a digital bank. Customers can access branch services through select branches of Alterna Savings. A decision by Alterna on whether to close a branch follows the Alterna Savings branch closure process.

Alterna Savings looks at market demographics when proceeding with branch closures to determine if additional steps need to be taken to assist seniors. These steps may include:

• Providing the link to the seniors’ section of our website when issuing branch closure notices.
• Advising seniors of available alternatives so that they can continue to bank after the branch has closed.

To ensure that we continue to meet the requirements of the Seniors Code we have integrated it into our regulatory compliance management framework.

Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario

416-916-6728 | www.eapon.ca

admin@eapon.ca

Here are some additional resources from EAPO on Elder Financial Abuse Prevention: Click HERE to open

Examples of Financial Scams Targeting Seniors

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is

Depending on the type of scam, criminals will use a variety of methods to target and approach a potential victim. 

Examples:

• • They may use reputable websites and newspaper ads to appear legitimate.
  • They might give you some money to earn your trust.
  • They may pose as potential buyers, sellers, employers, business partners, roommates, relatives, friends, or romantic partners.
  • Criminals have even posed as lottery organizations, charities, and diplomats.

The many identities they assume are endless, and they will target anyone. Including you.
Each year thousands of Canadians fall victim to scams. While the scams can take a variety of forms, the end result is the always same: financial loss.

Be vigilant - don’t fall prey to scam artists

Being aware that scams exist and educating yourself on how to avoid them is your best defense.

Here are some examples of financial scams targeting seniors

Grandchild Emergency Scam

Someone calls claiming to be a grandchild and asks for funds due to financial troubles or an emergency situation.  Click HERE for more details.

Romance Scam

Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. A fraudster sends a friend request through social media or a dating site. Once the friend request is accepted, they build an online relationship with the senior. The fraudster then asks for money due to fabricated financial troubles or an emergency. Click HERE for more details

CryptoCurrency Scams

Crypto Currencies are a digital medium of exchange across computer networks. While cryptocurrencies have been gaining in popularity, so have the CryptoCurrency Scams.   Fraudsters selling fake cryptocurrencies have professional-looking sites and make promises of excellent returns. Click HERE to learn more.

Charity and Donations Scams

Make sure your charitable donations are going to a legitimate organization. Often fraudsters use high-pressure tactics to get you to donate immediately. If you are contacted, take the time to research the organization and send donations through a legitimate website. Click HERE to learn more.

For more information on avoiding scams, visit the Security section of our website and use these helpful resources.

Scams and fraud - Canada.ca

Internet, email and telephone scams - Canada.ca

Internet Fraud and Scams Fact Sheet - Royal Canadian Mounted Police (rcmp-grc.gc.ca)

Please note that Alterna Savings provides the above information for your personal use only, and will not be held liable for any loss or damage as a result. Alterna Savings does not guarantee that the information provided is complete or accurate. Links from this website to other websites, or references to products, services or publications other than those of Alterna Savings, do not imply that Alterna Savings endorses such websites, products, services or publications.