Real-time service lets bank customers accept, reject debits

Customers of Los Alamos National Bank in New Mexico now have the option to receive a text message that alerts them when an electronic debit hits their account — and that allows them to accept or reject the charge in real time.

LANB has partnered with ACH Alert, a provider of risk management services for the Pro-Tech service, a news release from the company said.

The technology allows users to detect fraudulent entries immediately and return them instantly — all without their FI's intervention, saving time for all parties involved in a transaction.

"Fraudsters are continually finding ways to circumvent traditional security methods, leaving financial institutions and their account holders at risk," said ACH Alert CEO Debbie Peace. "Pro-Tech is part of a layered approach to fraud prevention that shifts control of the pay/no-pay decision to the customer, an option most accountholders crave."

Peace said that advances in mobile and online technologies have enabled real-time delivery of notifications through multiple channels, including text messaging, email and phone call.

Read more about ATM security.