Check fraud is making a comeback, and it is hitting businesses of every size. At Highpoint Community Bank, we have seen how something as simple as a mailed check can turn into a major disruption. Altered amounts, counterfeit checks, and stolen payments are not isolated incidents, and they are happening right here in our communities.
Paper checks once defined how business was done, but today they carry more risk than reward. Once a check leaves your hands, control over that payment is lost. Criminals can “wash” the ink, change the payee or amount, and even duplicate a check for multiple uses. Beyond the financial loss, there is also the frustration of delayed payments and the strain it can create with vendors or employees.
That is why more businesses are starting to move away from paper and toward secure digital payment options that offer both convenience and protection.
Making the Shift to Digital Security
One of the easiest ways to add security is by using ACH payments. This method allows money to move electronically for things like payroll, vendor payments, or recurring fees. Transactions are faster, harder to tamper with, and easy to track. With guidance from HCB, setting it up is simple and customized to fit how your business operates.
If your company still relies on checks, Positive Pay adds an important safeguard. You provide a list of checks you have written, and the system automatically flags any that do not match. It takes only a few minutes to set up but can save hours of stress by catching fraud before it reaches your account.
Customer-facing businesses can also benefit from secure merchant services available through our partnership with Merchants Pact. These solutions make accepting card payments safer both in person and online, helping reduce chargebacks and boosting customer confidence. For those ready to modernize even further, online payment portals bring everything together. They make it easy for customers to pay while keeping sensitive data protected behind secure, encrypted systems.
Small Steps Lead to Big Protection
You do not have to change everything all at once. Maybe you start by sending your next payroll through ACH instead of writing checks, or you add Positive Pay to the checks you already issue. Each step strengthens your protection and gives you more visibility into where your money is going.
At Highpoint Community Bank, we are here to help you find the balance between convenience and security. Our goal is to give local businesses the tools to protect what they have worked hard to build without adding complexity or stress.
If you are ready to explore safer payment options, reach out to your local branch!