The $8.3 billion Security Service Federal Credit Union in San Antonio is living up to its name by adding a new mobile layer of protection for member card accounts. 

Security Service FCU said it launched real-time credit and debit card text fraud alerts as a free service (except where phone charges apply) to help prevent fraudulent transactions from occurring on members' credit or debit cards. Members must sign up online to trigger credit card fraud alerts, but debit cards receive automatic enrollment in the program.

“With text fraud alerts, the minute we detect any suspicious debit or credit card activity on the account, we send a text message asking for verification of the transaction,” Howard Baker, executive vice president and chief risk officer for the credit union, said. “Members can rest assured that card fraud monitoring and account security are top priorities at Security Service.” 

Real time fraud alerts are available for the 700,000 Security Service FCU members in Texas, Colorado and Utah. 

According to a 2014 Federal Trade Commission survey, 10% of Americans have been credit card fraud victims and 7% have suffered losses via a debit or ATM card scheme. The median amount reported on credit card fraud is $399.

The credit union also offers three tips to help combat fraud: Keep contact information current, notify your financial institution about personal travel and never provide sensitive account information to anyone—including your financial institution—via text, social media or email. 

Another Texas credit union, the $2.4 billion Texas Dow Employees Credit Union in Lake Jackson, is taking a proactive approach when it comes to its members' security. It provides alerts on its website and online banking site to keep members informed of potential threats such as the recent FREAK exploit. The alerts grew out of policy resulting from member concern over last year's data much-publicized data breaches.