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Have you ever wondered how many banks are in The United States? Or how many assets are held at these banks? ...

Identity theft is moving a lighting speed.  Credit scores get destroyed, bank accounts and investments get heisted, and people's lives are ruined.  And it's so swift, it's practically unnoticeable until you get to the bank. Unfortunately, you may be giving the thieves everything they need to take everything you have.  Here are a few tips that you can start doing today to protect yourself from identity theft. Log off all public computers.  Using the public library's computer is a good tool if you don't have your own computer.  But be cautious while you are using it.  Make sure you log off from all of your programs and applications.  Staying logged in may give the person who uses the computer after you, all the information they need. Change your passwords.  Don't write your passwords out for everyone to see.  Keep your passwords in a safe location that only you know of.  Every so often, change out your passwords.  Hackers can get your information if you have a weak or the same password for everything. You fall for phishing scams.  Phishing scams are commonly seen in your email.  You receive a notification from your bank telling you that you have a problem with your account, and they need you to sign in.  Don't fall for it!  Those are scams trying to get your information.  You may also find emails that say you're entitled to a large sum of money when some unknown relative in a distant country died and left you all of their fortune.  If you don't know this unknown relative, chances are they never existed, along with this large inheritance. Get that paper shredder out.  Don't just throw out papers with your personal information on it.  Shred them. Shop on secured sites.  Make sure when you do your online shopping the address starts with https://.  Make sure your anti-virus program is up to date. Don't give out information over the phone.  If you get an unsolicited call from your bank or credit card company chances are, they are scammers. Hold on to your belongings.  Keep your bag and your phone with you at all times.  It may seem like a quick  trip to the store and, "Why not?  I'll be out in a jiffy."  Problem is, it takes just a jiffy for thieves to break into your car and grab your belongings.  It's not worth it. Don't text confidential information.  Your phone can easily be hacked by hackers.  Keep your confidential information off the phone. Don't store your personal information on your computer.  If your computer gets stolen, so does all of that information. Public WiFi.  Don't use public WiFi to do transactions.  It's never a good idea, your information is out there and ready for others to grab a hold of. Keep your personal information safe and out of the hackers grasp. Content provided by Transformer Marketing.

Financial Institutions policies are among the most complex in the insurance industry. The specialists at Program Brokerage Corporation (PBC) have over 30 years of experience working for, underwriting to, and representing financial institutions. Litigation involving financial institutions is at an all time high. Do you have the proper coverage in place for the continuing and expanding regulatory exposures?

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CHICAGO—May 12, 2014—There were 110 announced mergers and acquisitions of insurance agencies the US and Canada in the first four months of 2014, the strongest showing of any comparable period for at least seven years, OPTIS Partners’ new survey reveals.

Contrary to popular belief, identity fraud does not always begin online. According to Travelers claim data, 44 percent of ID fraud cases happen when a person's purse or wallet has been lost or stolen. Thieves can use the information they find inside for ID fraud, so here are some critical steps to help protect yourself and your identity. Watch Your Wallet and Purse Many people store personal information in their purses and wallets, making it easier for thieves to commit identity fraud. Help secure your identity by keeping your purse and wallet in a safe place and carrying only essentials when you go out. Leave credit cards you will not be using in a secure place at home. Unless it is absolutely necessary, avoid carrying Social Security cards, birth certificates or passports as they contain key pieces of personal information thieves could use to steal your identity. Monitor Your Mail Whether you are sending or receiving mail, take steps to help keep it safe from prying eyes. Never put outgoing checks, bill payments or financial information in your unlocked home mailbox. When you need to send out sensitive documents, consider using a secure postal mailbox or send them from the post office. If you have not signed up for electronic statements, be aware of when your credit card statements are scheduled to arrive. If they are late, call the credit card company to confirm if the statement was sent. Be sure to shred old bills and unnecessary financial records containing personal information. Keep a Careful Eye on Your Credit According to our data, nearly half of ID fraud cases are committed using the victim's current accounts. On a regular basis, review your credit report and bank statements to monitor your accounts, and take these extra precautions: Make a list of all your credit card and bank account information, and store the list in a secure place, such as on a password-protected flash drive or in a fire-proof safe. Include account numbers, expiration dates, credit limits and phone numbers or emails of the customer service and fraud departments. If your card is missing or stolen, you will then be able to quickly notify your credit card provider to prevent fraudulent charges. Review your credit report and notify the credit bureaus of any mistakes. The U.S. Government Fair Credit Reporting Act gives consumers the right to receive one free copy of their credit report every 12 months from each of the three main credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). Order one report from a different bureau every four months to see credit activity throughout the year. To order your credit report, visitwww.annualcreditreport.com. Keep Your Social Security Number Safe Social Security numbers are often used to open fraudulent accounts or to access financial information or assets. Do not have your Social Security number printed on your checks or allow merchants to write it on them. If a business requests your Social Security number, ask them why. If it is not a valid reason, do not provide the information they request. Also, never give confidential information to an unsolicited phone caller who claims they represent a financial institution or creditor. Instead, get the caller's name, location, phone number and reason for the call. Then call the phone number on your billing statements to verify the caller's identification. Get additional tips for helping protect your identity while you are online. Consider buying identity fraud insurance, a relatively inexpensive add-on to your renters or homeowners insurance policy. This coverage typically reimburses the cost of reclaiming your identity and rebuilding your credit, such as attorney's and notary fees and replacement of IDs. It is a low-cost investment against a high-expense crime.

...y owner, real estate agent or even banks can have when dealing with an evictio...

...mary targets as mega-corporations; banks, credit card providers, online retail...

All Risks, Ltd.'s competitive Financial Institutions - Real Estate Owned, Lender Placed, Collateral & Vehicle Property Insurance Program is available nationwide through an A.M. Best A XIII carrier.

Airbnb and VRBO properties: Short-term vacation rental insurance program With the unprecedented growth of Airbnb and VRBO, there was a huge need for a GA to develop a go-to program for this risk. Our program is the most comprehensive insurance coverage a vacation rental owner can purchase. Because we only offer one program, it allows us to solely focus on this niche short-term vacation rental industry, aka, the Airbnb and VRBO industry. Proper Insurance is an experienced program administrator that understands the needs of agents and brokers. Proper works closely with insurance agents and brokers throughout the United States, all 50 states. We know insurance brokers work hard to get their clients into the right coverage.