UMBF UMB Financial Corporation

Dan Cunningham, executive vice president of retail card services at UMB Bank (NASDAQ: UMBF), issues the following tips to help consumers protect themselves from becoming victims of financial fraud and identity theft. "Vacations and summer travel are meant to be times for relaxation and fun. The last thing people want is to ruin a trip because their credit card was either lost or stolen. Here are few tips to help prevent or protect vacationers from becoming a victim this summer." 1. Most fraudulent use of cards takes place within a few days of their being lost or stolen. Report lost or stolen cards immediately to your bank. 2. Protect your cards as if they were cash. Do not leave them unattended anywhere, such as in a car, bar, night club or on the beach. Carry your cards with you when you travel. When you can't, for instance, at the beach, put them in the hotel or motel safe. Never leave your cards in your hotel room, not even in a suitcase. 3. Never write down your PIN -- memorize it. Don't write it down in your wallet or on the back of the card. Don't designate the same PIN for all your cards, and don't designate a number such as your birth date, that can be found easily in your wallet. 4. Don't leave your credit cards in your car's glove compartment. An alarmingly high proportion of all credit card thefts are from car glove compartments. 5. Always check your card when you get it back in a store or restaurant. It's easy for you to forget your card when you're in a hurry. It's easy for waiters or sales people to give you the wrong card when they're in a hurry. 6. Don't carelessly discard or leave in the open documents that contain your personal information -- including account numbers -- such as car rental agreements or airline ticket coupons. 7. Do not give your account number over the phone unless you initiated the call. 8. Don't lend your card. You are responsible for its use. Travel can be expensive and inconvenient if your card is stolen. 9. Always take your charge slips and destroy the carbons if present. 10. And for the overseas travelers, let your card provider know you plan to travel to a foreign country. Oftentimes, there may be restrictions on using your card in some countries and your provider will be less likely to question the foreign transactions. Dan Cunningham Executive Vice President, Retail Card Services UMB Bank UMB Financial Corporation is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., offering complete banking and related financial services to both individual and business customers nationwide. Its banking subsidiaries own and operate 141 banking centers throughout Missouri, Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Arizona. Subsidiaries of the holding company and the lead bank, UMB Bank, n.a., include an investment services group based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a trust management company in South Dakota, and single-purpose companies that deal with brokerage services, consulting services and insurance. UMB was named one of Business Week's "Web Smart 50" companies in 2005.