Security Statement

Minnwest Bank's Internet Banking Service features one of the industry’s most advanced security systems available. Our system employs user authentication to ensure that data being transmitted through the Internet is secure and protected from unauthorized access. The four (4) primary areas of concern involving the securing of data over the Internet are as follows:

1. Securing log-in and user authenticity.
2. Encryption while data is in transit.
3. Routing unwanted traffic away from the Bank.
4. Physical security of the Bank’s server.

The preventive methods and practices we consistently implement to circumvent these security concerns are outlined below.

Secure Access and Verifying User Authenticity

Minnwest Bank's Internet Banking Service utilizes digital IDs issued by VeriSign, ensuring that the owner is not claiming a false identity. The digital ID is similar to a government-issued passport, in that it vouches for the identity of the holder. When VeriSign issues a digital certificate, it is placing its name behind Minnwest Bank and our web site.

Secured Data Transmission

The most common privacy tool, a PIN or password, has notable limitations. If the customer’s PIN is inadvertently revealed, the effectiveness of the security measure is instantly void. Minnwest Bank's digital ID technology solves this issue because it does not rely on sharing secret keys or PINs. A digital ID requires a matched pair of keys that are unique to each other. Once the server session is established, the user and the server are in a secured environment. Because our server has been certified as a 128-bit secure server by VeriSign, data traveling between the user and the server is encrypted with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol. With SSL, data traveling between the Bank and the customer is encrypted and can only be decrypted through the pairing of the public and the private key. In short, the Bank’s server issues a public key to the end user’s browser and creates a temporary private key. These two (2) keys are the only combination possible for that session. When the session is complete, the keys expire and the entire process begins again when a new end user makes a server connection.

Personal and Business Online Banking are generally accessible from any currently supported Internet Browser.  Currently supported Browsers are those browsers that are actively offered, patched, and supported by their software publishing company such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari.  We highly recommend updating your browser to a current version to help mitigate the risks associated with unpatched and unsecure software which may allow your computer or data to be compromised.

Router and Firewall

All requests for information must filter through a router and firewall before they are permitted to reach the server. A router, a piece of hardware, works in conjunction with the firewall, a piece of software and hardware to block and direct traffic coming into the server. The configuration begins by disallowing all traffic and then, opening holes only when necessary. This exchange allows the processing of acceptable data requests, such as, retrieving web pages or sending customer requests to the Bank. Our Internet Banking server is protected by the leading firewall software and hardware. As an additional measure of security, our server resides in a secure data center.

By combining the latest technology with authenticated access to the server, Minnwest Bank makes your Internet Banking sessions secure.