(Photo courtesy Washington Trust Bank)
The Bend branch of Washington Trust Bank will host a community Shred Day on September 25 from 9am-12pm.
The event is free for the public to attend, and Washington Trust encourages participants to bring sensitive documents to 1219 NE 3rd St., Suite 120, where the bank will dispose of them free of charge.
“Last year was our first time hosting a Shred Day in Bend, and the turnout made it clear how valuable this service is for our community,” said Noel Faler, Bend branch manager. “We’re excited to bring it back—just bring your documents, and we’ll make sure they’re disposed of securely to give you extra peace of mind and protection against identity fraud.”
Samples of documents to bring for shredding include (but are not limited to):
- Anything containing personal information (e.g., bank account or social security numbers)
- Bank statements (older than one year)
- Bills
- Canceled/voided checks
- Junk mail
- Pre-approved credit card offers
- Tax documents (older than three years)
As fraud losses to both businesses and consumers continue to rise, the importance of proper documents disposal, as well as being able to identify likely scams and what action to take are vital.
“Properly disposing of sensitive documents continues to be one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself from identity theft,” said Becky Sechler, SVP, director of retail banking & client delivery. “Our Shred Days are designed to make that protection simple and accessible to anyone who wants added peace of mind.”
