Ridgewood Savings Bank Hosts ID Theft Days

Ridgewood Savings Bank will partner with USA Shred to host Identity Theft Awareness Days at eight of its branches during September and October 2008. This program is designed to help bank customers as well as community residents avoid identify theft by allowing them to have their personal documents safely shredded at no charge. The first in the series of Identity Theft Awareness Days will be held at the Main Office branch of Ridgewood Savings Bank, 71-02 Forest Ave., Ridgewood; 718- 240-4800 on Saturday, September 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Identity theft occurs when an individual uses another person's identifying information

such as a Social Security Number or financial account information) to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft has become increasingly common during the past 10 years. According to the Federal Trade Commission, as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year.

Any document with an account number can be used in identity theft. This includes prescreened credit card offers, receipts, canceled checks, bank statements, expired charge cards, medical bills and insurance documents. Shredding can prevent thieves from obtaining information from discarded paper.

No reservations are required for the Ridgewood Savings Bank Identity Theft Awareness Day events and the process is simple. People can bring their documents to the specified bank branch on the day of the event

at the noted times) and place them in a hopper.

There is a two-carton limit of personal documents to be shredded per household.) When the hopper is filled, it will be lifted and dumped into the shredder. As the shredding takes place, a computer screen will display the contents being destroyed in a shredding truck. USA Shred will shred the documents, compliments of Ridgewood Savings Bank.

In addition to the free shredding service, Ridgewood Savings Bank will be offering educational brochures with information on additional steps customers can take to protect their identities.

For more information on identity theft prevention, visit www.USAShred.info or call 888-SHRED77.

"As a community bank, we are certainly committed to helping local residents protect themselves from identity theft, which is a very serious and costly problem," Ridgewood Savings Bank Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer William C. McGarry said. "These events will make it easier for people to take the important preventative step of shredding their documents for security purposes."

Identity Theft Awareness Days will also be held during the following dates and times at these designated Ridgewood Savings Bank branch locations:

• Saturday, September 13, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Lindenhurst Branch, 317 South Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst; 631-225-6600.

• Saturday, September 27, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Hollis Branch, 205-11 Hillside Ave., Hollis; 718-776-9100.

• Saturday, September 27, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Garden City Park Branch, 2435 Jericho Tpke., Garden City; 516-294-9090.

• Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., Dyker Heights Branch, 7020 13th Ave., Brooklyn; 718-238-0060.

• Saturday, October 18, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Gun Hill Road Branch, 1770 East Gun Hill Rd., The Bronx; 718-671-4600.

• Saturday, October 25, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Yonkers Branch, 670 McLean Ave., Yonkers; 914-964-9820.

• Saturday, October 25, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Yorkville Branch, 345 East 86th St., Manhattan; 212-348-2200.

Chartered in 1921, Ridgewood Savings Bank (www.ridgewoodbank.com) is the largest mutual savings bank in New York state with $4.1 billion in assets serving customers throughout the New York metropolitan area.