Enhanced Online Security FAQs

Frequently asked questions about online security.

General

“Enhanced Online Security” is a security feature that adds a layer of protection to validate members when they log into our Online Banking service. This layer includes creating a unique Username and a special password, eliminating the need to enter your account number information.

The “Enhanced Online Security” feature identifies you as the true owner of your account(s) in two ways:

  • Verifying your account identity by asking for your unique username.
  • Verifying your access by asking for your unique password.

The security information (your username and password) is used to store the identification information only. No personal or private data is stored.

“Enhanced Online Security” is required for Online Banking.
The “Enhanced Online Security” will prevent anyone but you from accessing your accounts through Online Banking without your Username and Password. The Online Banking system will not allow access without the unique Username and Password, and they will not know the answer to the Challenge Questions you have selected.
No. “Enhanced Online Security” only increases the difficulty of anyone other than you from logging in to your Online Banking account.
No. If someone has access to your Username and Password or the answers to your Challenge Questions, they could log in to your account.

We strongly recommend that you access your Online Banking account on a computer that you use frequently. Whenever you access your account from a new computer, you will be asked to provide answers for additional security questions to keep your accounts secure.

Never give anyone your Online Banking Password or answers to your Challenge Questions.

How will “Enhanced Online Security” prevent them from accessing my accounts with Online Banking?

Because you are not using your account number to access online banking, it is much harder for someone to know your unique Username and Password. They may have discovered your account number, but they will not know your username and password. That is why it is vital to keep your username and password unique and known only to you and Beacon Credit Union officials.

Getting Started

First, you will be asked for your account number. If you haven’t established a username you will have to register with the “No Username? Click Here” Link

You will then be asked to create a “Username” and a “Password”! The Password is separate from your account number is used to protect your account number information.
Next, you “may” be asked challenge questions to further identify your account. This is a revolving security measure and is used to further enhance account protection.

Yes. You can use as many computers as you want. However, to protect your security measures, don’t have the computer remember Usernames and Passwords when logging in. We recommend you only use computers that you use frequently to access Online Banking.

If you are using a computer that is accessed by numerous users (i.e., at a library), we recommend that you do not save your account information on public computers as a safety measure.

The process adds a layer of security to the Online Banking service. It allows the Online Banking system to help members protect their Online Banking access and the privacy or their account numbers.

Challenge Questions

The Challenge Questions are used for two purposes:

To challenge anyone that is trying to gain access to your account without the correct Username and Password.
If you forget your Password, you can re-set yourself without having to call Beacon Credit Union by using the Challenge Questions.

No. There is not an option currently to have members change their challenge questions on their own.
No. You must select one question from each list provided.
This might happen if you entered the wrong Username and/or wrong Password or if you have accessed your account numerous times in a short period. Before answering the Challenge, Questions or entering your password, make sure you are accessing our Online Banking website. The easiest way to ensure this is by typing the address for Beacon’s website (www.mybcu.org) into your browser’s address window, then click the Member Login link. Then answer your Challenge Questions.

Remote Access

You will be asked to answer the Challenge Questions after successfully entering your Password.
No. The challenge questions are designed to protect you against unauthorized access to your member account. The questions are generated by the security system.

We recommend you never save your login information on a computer that you frequently. Should someone use those computers, they can access Online banking from any computer you have saved your log-in information on.

Multiple Users on the Same Computer and Multiple Browsers on the same Computer

Yes. Our security system only recognizes the unique usernames and passwords entered at log-in. Multiple users with multiple unique Usernames and Passwords are treated individually from the same computer.
Yes. If you use multiple browsers, you must log in to Online Banking and enter your Username and Password.

More About Cookies

It is a message given to your Web browser by our Web server. Your browser stores the message in a text file. The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.
No. The system uses your unique log-in Username and Password that has been stored in the Beacon Credit Union security system.
No. It is encrypted, and no externally identifiable end user information is stored in it.
Unless you save your log-in information on the public computer, no cookie will be placed on the public computer. We strongly recommend that you do not save personal information on public computers.