News & Announcements

There was a time when community banks dotted the landscape of America, in both large and small towns alike. These locally owned and operated banks were built on establishing mutually beneficial relationships between the bank and the community it served. Unfortunately, those small-town values attached to community banking got lost, when larger banking conglomerates began to gobble up their smaller counterparts. Community banks literally disappeared in many regions. Now, thanks to Ohio State Bank, community banking has returned to Central Ohio.

Ohio State Bank opened its doors on Main Street in Bexley in April 2019. This marked the return of community-focused banking, not seen in the region since 2014. Now, just two short years later, Ohio State Bank has expanded, opening a new Upper Arlington branch.

The recently opened, new branch of Ohio State Bank is located in the heart of Upper Arlington, at the northeast corner of Lane Avenue and Northwest Boulevard (1776 W. Lane Ave). It is convenient to Upper Arlington residents, and offers the same full range of services you might expect in a larger bank. Because it is locally owned and operated, the atmosphere is relaxed, with the personal touch and friendly staff that clients of Ohio State Bank have come to expect. In addition to basic checking, savings, and money market accounts, debit and credit cards are also available. Online and mobile applications make it easy for those on-the-go to get their banking done quickly. And personal and business loans are processed immediately, making the waiting time short and without undue delays.

“We recognize the community spirit that exists in Upper Arlington and want to be a part of that sense of belonging,” said Ohio State Bank President/CEO Dave Mallett. “Already, a good number of our shareholders are Upper Arlington residents, so they now have a more convenient location to do their banking. We hope that those who have not yet discovered the benefits of community banking will give us a try, as well. We believe that the differences set us apart, and we are confident that you will see that, too.”

For those who have not yet experienced community banking – or who may have forgotten what community banking can offer – Ohio State Bank invites you to come see for yourself. You will find that personalized and convenient service, even in these fast-paced and often trying times, can make all the difference. As an Ohio state-chartered, FDIC-insured commercial bank, bank patrons can always trust Ohio State Bank to handle their banking needs and treat them like family. That’s what banking should be.

Beware of Fraudsters

During this busy time of year we want to remind everyone how stolen cardholder information is used to commit fraud. We have included tips below about keeping your information safe — even when dealing with your financial institution.
Fraudsters have become increasingly adept at getting cardholders to share the information they need to commit fraud by posing as financial institution call center agents, or by sending text messages that look like they are coming from your institution, warning of suspicious transaction activities. They are also known to call in to call centers posing as cardholders requesting changes to card information and parameters.
Fraudsters use information stolen through data breaches (at health insurance providers, reward program providers, credit bureaus, merchant terminals, and social media sites, to mention just a few recent ones) as well as through malware programs deployed on personal computers and other sources. Stolen personally identifiable information (PII) is combined with stolen card information, resulting in sufficient information to create profiles that fraudsters can use to position themselves as the actual cardholders.

•A text alert from Fiserv to you warning of suspicious activity on your card will NEVER include a link to be clicked. Cardholders should never click on a link in a text message that is supposedly from Fiserv or OSB. A valid notification from Fiserv will provide information about the suspect transaction and ask the cardholder to reply to the text message with answers such as ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘help’, or ‘stop,’ and will never include a link.

• A text alert from Fiserv or OSB will always be from a 5-digit number and NOT a 10-digit number resembling a phone number. Text caller IDs will be 20733 or 37268.
• A phone call from Fiserv’s automated dialer will only include a request for a cardholder’s Zip code, and no other personal information, unless they confirm that a transaction is fraudulent. Only then will they be transferred to an agent who will ask questions to confirm their identity before going through their transactions.

If at any point you are uncertain about questions being asked or the call itself, you are advised to hang up and call Ohio State Bank directly (614-697-1000). If you receive a call claiming to be the Fiserv call center and asking to verify transactions, no information should have to be provided by you other than your Zip code and a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the transaction provided.

• Fiserv or OSB will NEVER ask for the PIN or the 3-digit security code on the back of a card.
• Posing as call center agents, fraudsters will often ask cardholders to verify fake transactions. When the cardholder says no, they did not perform those transactions, the fraudster then says that their card will be blocked, a new card will be issued, and that they need the card’s PIN to put on the new card. Many people believe this and provide their PIN.
• Regularly check your account(s) online for suspicious transactions, but especially if you are unsure about a call or text message you’ve received. If anything looks amiss, call Ohio State Bank directly for assistance.
• If you have received a voice or a text message from Fiserv’s (OSB) fraud call center and are unsure about responding to it, call Ohio State Bank directly for assistance.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to an Ohio State Bank Associate with any questions that you may have.