Security Center
Sentinel Alerts: Be Informed. Be Aware. Protect Yourself.
October 19, 2022- Cybersecurity Tips:
- Watch for misspelled words. Fraudulent texts and emails often have typos. Real banks use spell check.
- Call the number on your card. If you think an email, text, or call might be a scam, play it safe. Just hang up and call the number on the back of your card.
- Never share your PIN or password. Got an email, text, or phone call that claims to be from your bank, but is asking for your PIN or password? Banks never ask that. Just hang up and call the number on the back of your card.
- Beware of scare tactics. Scam emails, texts, and calls may pressure or even threaten you to respond. Banks never ask that. Just ignore them, and call your bank directly.
- Be wary of suspicious links. Banks will never send you a text or email that asks you to click a suspicious link.
May 4, 2021 - COVID-19 Communication
December 3, 2020 - COVID-19 Communication
ATTENTION: Effective immediately, all branch lobbies are closed to customer traffic. Customers may make appointments for safe deposit box access or loan activities as needed, but all other transactions will need to be conducted through the drive-thru. Customers may also take advantage of our online/mobile/telephone banking services. Thank you!
September 29, 2020 - Scam Alert
We have been made aware of a scam from someone apparently impersonating the company Amazon. The alleged company is contacting individuals via e-mail asking them to purchase gift cards to send for payment of products/services. If you receive an e-mail like this, please delete the e-mail and DO NOT share any personal information. As a reminder, companies like this will never e-mail asking for alternative forms of payment for any products or services rendered. If ever presented with this situation, you should always contact that company directly from their website.
March 26, 2020 - COVID-19 Communication
- Hang up on robocalls. Don’t press any numbers. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch everything from scam Coronavirus treatments to work-at-home schemes. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead.
- Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. There currently are no vaccines, pills, potions, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products available to treat or cure Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) — online or in stores. At this time, there also are no FDA-authorized home test kits for the Coronavirus. Visit the FDA to learn more.
- Fact-check information. Scammers, and sometimes well-meaning people, share information that hasn’t been verified. Before you pass on any messages, contact trusted sources. Visit What the U.S. Government is Doing for links to federal, state and local government agencies.
- Know who you’re buying from. Online sellers may claim to have in-demand products, like cleaning, household, and health and medical supplies when, in fact, they don’t.
- Don’t respond to texts and emails about checks from the government. The details are still being worked out. Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer. Do Not give any account information as the Government or Banks will not request this information
- Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. They could download viruses onto your computer or device.
- Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying they have information about the virus. For the most up-to-date information about the Coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Do your homework when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowdfunding sites. Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it.
March 19, 2020 - COVID-19 Communication
First Sentinel Bank is first and foremost local people serving local people. As we continue to navigate the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, our bank is focused on serving the best interests of our customers, our employees, and our communities. As we continue our preventive measures to protect your health and safety, we have weighed several options in light of state and federal guidelines and recommendations by the Center for Disease Control as well as recommendations made by the Virginia Bankers Association. With your wellbeing in mind, First Sentinel Bank has made the decision to close our branch lobbies and move to drive thru only services effective Friday, March 20th. We will remain open for all of your needs; however, the way we will have to transact business will be modified. We will continue with drive thru only service for the foreseeable future.
Our operating hours will remain unchanged and you will still be able to make deposits, withdrawals, pay loan payments, and conduct other standard banking transactions through the drive thru. Should you need access to your safe deposit box or need to speak with a loan officer, you may call the branch to schedule an appointment.
Our hours of operation will remain unchanged and are as follows:
Monday -Friday, 8 am – 6pm (drive thru)
Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5pm (branch appointments as necessary)
For your convenience, we also have several electronic banking options:
ATM
- Our branch ATMS are available 24/7
- Make deposits
- Check balances
- Withdraw cash
- Also have fee-free access to over 55,000 ATMs nationwide with the AllPoint Network
Telephone Banking (276/963-3400)
- Available 24/7
- Transfer funds between accounts
- Check balances and account history or pending transactions
- Make payments.
Online banking
- Visit our website at firstsentinelbank.com
- Convenient access to your account statements and transactions history
- Pay bills without mailing a check with Online BillPay
- Transfer funds between accounts
- Make loan payments (via Loan Portal)
- Call your local branch for more information on enrolling in Online Banking
Mobile banking
- Download app available in iTunes App Store or Google Play store
- Convenient banking in the palm of your hand
- View transactions
- Transfer funds between accounts
- Schedule bill payments through BillPay
- View eStatements
- Call your local branch for more information on enrolling in Mobile Banking
Rest assured that First Sentinel Bank is committed to being here for you and is taking every precaution possible to protect your health and safety. We will continue to monitor the situation and will notify you of additional changes as information becomes available. Thank you for being an important part of our First Sentinel family.
Stay Well,
John Thompson
President & CEO
First Sentinel Bank
March 12, 2020 - COVID-19 Communication
As more information becomes available regarding the current COVID-19 situation, and as we still continue to deal with other seasonal communicable illnesses (such as seasonal flu), First Sentinel Bank wants to assure all of our customers, employees, and community partners that your health and well-being continue to be our primary focus. To that end, we want to provide information regarding our plans for proactively avoiding disruptions to services, and provide additional resources for your reference.
To address ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19 and community spread, we remind you of our alternate means of banking with us. For your convenience, the following methods are available to you 24/7:
- Online banking, including loan payments, balance inquiries and transfers, and BillPay (visit us at firstsentinelbank.com).
- Mobile banking, including balance inquiries and transfers, BillPay (available in the iTunes and Android app stores).
- Telephone Banking (call (276) 963-3400).
- ATMs (located at all of our branches).
Below are additional measures we have proactively implemented to safeguard your health and well-being:
- Enhanced cleaning protocol at all of our locations to ensure heightened levels of disinfection and safety.
- Availability of hand sanitizer and tissues in all of our offices for your use.
- Staff education regarding Center for Disease Control recommendations for remaining healthy.
- Establishment of staffing policies to assist employees who are exposed or exhibit any symptoms of illness.
For more information regarding COVID-19 click on the following links to access resources from the Center of Disease Control:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/workplace-school-and-home-guidance.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf
Rest assured that First Sentinel Bank is actively working to ensure your financial needs continue to be met during this situation. We are more committed than ever to serving you with excellence no matter the situation.
Stay well,
The Team at First Sentinel Bank
Update: October 2, 2018 - Counterfeit Official Checks of First Sentinel Bank of Richlands, VA
- General Scams – Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
- Internet-based Scams – Visit Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Fraud Complaint Center
- Mail-based Scams – Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by telephone at 1-877-876-2455, or by mail at
May 9, 2017 - Text Message Scam
December 29, 2016 - Online Banking Customers
Automated Phone Message Scam
Text Message and Phone Phishing Attacks
Lost or Stolen Debit Card
- The bank's name and city, state.
- The exact name on the card
- Your full address and day time phone number
- The reason you request the card to be hot carded
Other Important Numbers
Local Law Enforcement
- Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office (276) 988-5966
- Russell County Sheriff’s Office (276) 889-8033
- VA State Police (804) 674-2000