November 3, 2026
Categories: Education & Security, Online & Mobile Banking
It’s hard to ignore the presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our everyday lives. It seems to be everywhere! When we ask for directions, platforms use AI to analyze traffic and calculate routes. Streaming services use AI to suggest content based on our viewing history. Social media platforms power feeds and advertising designed to match our personal tastes. AI can be a very valuable tool if used correctly and with proper intentions, and it is an easy place to turn if you need a fast answer. Increasingly, people are using AI platforms for financial advice. According to CBS News, over half of us use AI for financial guidance around homebuying, investments, and retirement. It is important to remember that AI is a tool and should not be relied upon as the only source of financial advice. Additionally, it’s important to state that you must exercise extreme caution, especially when soliciting financial advice, as AI platforms often store chat data indefinitely.
As I used to tell my students when I was an adjunct professor, “Never share anything on social media that you would not want to see on the front page of the newspaper.” The same applies for inputting information into AI.
It’s easy to believe that any information that you input into AI is safe from prying eyes because you are not dealing directly with an individual, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Think of it this way: If you shouldn’t share sensitive information such login names, passwords, PINs, one-time passcodes, or security answers with a person; likewise, you shouldn’t share that information on an AI platform. Doing so poses significant risks, including the possibility of identity theft, or unauthorized access to your accounts.
How to protect yourself
Never input sensitive information into any AI tool. AI platforms are not secure and many times they will retain or log chat inputs for training and review.
Check your AI assistant’s settings, browser extensions, or account dashboards for active third-party tools, plugins and integrations. Disconnect any that touch financial or email services.
Be vigilant when using your credit and debit cards for Agentic AI payments, which permit an AI platform to find, select, and pay for goods and services on your behalf – even if you set parameters – for both single and multiple transactions. For example, there’s a product that you see online that you want to buy, and you give AI permission to act as an “agent” to monitor and purchase that item on your behalf at a set limit. Many people use this automatic tool for recurring household supplies or subscription renewals without having to manually and repeatedly checkout an item. This is convenient, and great for getting the best deal, but it does open you and your accounts up to security risks. In order to protect you, some financial institutions are blocking AI agents from using their sites.
If you use general all-purpose AI platforms, go into the privacy or data controls and disable options that allow the platform to use your chat history to train its models. You should also delete your conversation logs immediately after you’ve used them.
If you must use AI for advice, NEVER share the following information:
- Name, address, or birthdate
- Social Security Number
- Usernames and passwords
- Financial institution or investment account numbers
- Driver’s License information or that of any government issued ID
- Tax returns, paychecks, or investment account statements
- Employment information
- Medical records
- Legal documents
- Exact numbers (spending, debts, account balances)
- Travel plans
- Family information
- Photographs (some images might reveal addresses, ID badges, license plates, computer screens or other private details)
Have a safe usage strategy. You can use AI for financial planning and questions by keeping the inquiries general and using estimated ranges instead of exact figures and universal scenarios instead of actual information, but AI is not always perfect or foolproof, so always verify the information with a (human) professional.
When in doubt, consult human experts. Rather than asking an AI chatbot, contact our Member Service team directly, or visit one of our branches in person. Our staff is ready and happy to safely answer your questions.