For businesses, one of the most effective ways to strengthen your financial security is to regularly review your account access settings and internal controls. A simple check-in with your banker can help review your accounts, access levels and payment processes to identify risks and ensure the right safeguards are in place.

Where to Start

A review can include questions like:

• Who are the authorized signers on your accounts, and what level of authority do they have?
• Who has online banking access, and what controls are in place for those users?
• What does your payables process look like today?
• Do you have proper segregation of duties between approving, sending and reconciling payments?
• How often are you reconciling accounts?
• Are there any dormant accounts or unused services that should be addressed?

Even a brief conversation with your banker about these topics can uncover opportunities to strengthen your internal controls.

When Something Feels Off, Knowing Who to Call Matters

Beyond having regular reviews, simply knowing who you should call in case of an emergency is critical. Seeing an unauthorized transaction hit your account can be confusing and stressful. In that moment, time is of the utmost importance – and so is having a dedicated banking partner you can trust. At Bell, our bankers are always available when you need them. Be sure to save your banker’s contact information, along with our fraud hotline, so you know who to contact when something happens.

Get Started Today

Reviewing your accounts today can help prevent headaches later. If you haven’t recently reviewed your account access, internal controls or payment processes, now may be a good time to do so. Reach out to your business banker today to schedule an account review and make sure your business has the right protections in place.