Local bank warns customers about fake calls pretending to be the bank

First State Bank, a locally owned bank in Streator, is warning customers about scam phone calls. The bank says it has recently heard from more customers who got suspicious calls from people claiming to work for the bank. The callers are trying to get personal and account details.

What the bank is seeing

The bank says the number of customer reports has gone up. Each one describes a caller who says they represent First State Bank. The goal, according to the bank, is to collect personal and account information. The bank has not said how many customers have called or how long the calls have been going on.

About the bank

First State Bank has been locally owned since 1940. It serves the local communities around it. Local banks like this are often trusted by long-time customers, which can make a call that uses the bank's name feel believable.

What to do

The bank's advice is short: if you get a suspicious call like this, hang up. Do not click and do not share. That covers a few specific things.

• Hang up on the caller.
• Do not click any suspicious links.
• Do not share personal information.
• Do not send money or payments.

To check whether a call was real, phone the Streator branch yourself. Use a number you already know or find on your own, not one the caller gives you. A real bank will not mind if you hang up and call back.

What is not known yet

The bank has not said what the callers say, what numbers they use, or whether anyone lost money. It also has not said how the scammers got customer names. Customers who are unsure about a call can contact the branch directly.