National Consumer Protection Week (March 1–7) is a nationwide effort to help people guard their money and personal information. This year also includes Slam the Scam Day on March 5, which focuses on stopping imposter scams, one of the fastest‑growing types of fraud in the country.

We are posting content every day during Consumer Protection Week to help people in the communities we serve combat fraud and report it so that scammers can’t continue to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.

It can seem like every passing year brings more passwords and other credentials to remember for every service, website, credit union, bank, and more. To keep bad actors at bay, many websites have also implemented requirements that passwords become more elaborate and complex.

With all of those factors at play, it can be tempting to simply write passwords down somewhere we’ll remember to look, such as a physical notepad or a note in your phone.

But First Commerce Director of Information Technology Aaron Williams reminds us there is a much better, safer way to log in: passkeys.

Passkeys can use data such as biometric recognition—like a fingerprint or Face ID—to determine that it’s really you trying to log in to your accounts.

“Passkeys are a safe way to log in and access websites without having to worry about remembering all those passwords. When we write our passwords down or save them to Notepad or Word documents, we’re really making ourselves vulnerable,” Williams said.

Passkeys are a great line of defense against phishing attacks, which is a major focus of our Consumer Protection Week series. They are also increasingly available to set up.

“More and more vendors, providers and websites are offering passkeys to give end users a safer, more efficient way to login to systems,” Williams added.

Your safety is our top priority. If something feels suspicious, or if you ever think you may have shared information with a scammer, contact us right away. Acting quickly can help protect your account.

Stay informed. Stay confident. Stay protected.

We’re always here to help.

First Commerce Credit Union provides this content to inform and inspire. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee this information is accurate, complete or current.  This information is not professional advice (tax, legal, financial, etc.) and should not replace your individual consultation with qualified advisors. Laws, rules, and personal circumstances can change, so please verify how this information applies (or does not apply) to your situation and location. All decisions remain your responsibility. First Commerce Credit Union and its affiliates and employees assume no liability for outcomes resulting from the use of this material.