Questions & Answers about Online Banking

As with any personal information, we recommend you never disclose your account number or passwords to anyone not authorized to access your accounts. Please also note that no employee or representative of Washington Federal will ever ask for your password. If that ever occurs, please contact us immediately at 1.800.961.0055.

Q: Do I have to be a customer to use this service?

A: In order to take advantage of the convenience of Online Banking, you must currently be a customer of Washington Federal (formerly Horizon Bank) with any deposit or loan relationship. If you do not yet have an account with us, we encourage you to contact the Washington Federal office nearest you to open your account.

Q: Is Online Banking secure?

A: Online Banking uses several methods to secure your online banking session.

• Encryption - We use 128-bit encryption to secure your information as it is transmitted to and from Washington Federal.
• Multi-Factor Authentication - We use Multi-Factor Authentication (a security image and phrase and security questions) in addtion to your unique Login ID and password to ensure no one can sign in as you.
• SSL - We use SSL (secure sockets layer) to protect the connection between you and Washington Federal during your online session.
• Session Time-Out - Online Banking automatically closes the online session after a specified time of inactivity (maximum of 30 minutes.)

Q: How do I know if I am using 128-bit encryption?

A: Encryption is a function of your internet browser software. To view which level of encryption you are currently operating under, select your browser's "Help" menu, then select "About." The browser's encryption level will be displayed there. If your browser is using 40-bit encryption, you will be required to upgrade your browser software before you may access your online information.

Q: How should I choose my password for Online Banking?

A: Your password should not be a word in any language, slang, dialect, jargon, etc. It should not be based on personal information such as names of family members, birthdates, addresses, etc. For greater security, we require your password to be a minimum of 6 characters long and contain 3 of the 4 following characteristics:

1. Uppercase Letters A to Z
2. Lowercase Letters a to z
3. Numbers 0 to 9
4. Non-Alphabetic Characters ! @ $ - _ / . , : = *

Q: What if I forget my password?

A: If you forget your password and are locked out of Online Banking, contact Washington Federal's Central Operations Department at 1.800.961.0055 or via email and we will assign you a new temporary password after properly identifying you over the phone. Do not record your Login ID or password anywhere. If you believe your password has been stolen, contact us immediately.