'Tis the Season: U.S. Bank Fraud Liaison Center Helps Customers Combat Fraud Including Identity Theft.

Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 26, 2003

U.S. Bank customers have a new ally to help combat fraud, the U.S. Bank Fraud Liaison Center. The Fraud Liaison Center is available to all U.S. Bank customers 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week via its 24-hour banking customer service line, 800-USBANKS.

"We want to help our customers who are concerned there might be fraudulent or suspicious activity involving their account, or that they may have become a victim of identity theft, and to provide suggestions on what steps to take to regain their identity," said Mary Blegen, senior vice president in charge of U.S. Bank 24-Hour Banking and Financial Sales. "The U.S. Bank Fraud Liaison Center team will listen to the customer's situation and then ask the right questions to determine if the customer's identity was indeed stolen, or if their account was used in a fraudulent manner instead. We will assist them in reporting fraud on their U.S. Bank account and suggest, when appropriate, to contact agencies including the Federal Trade Commission and credit bureaus. We also work cooperatively with law enforcement when they need to become involved."

Blegen acknowledges that not every call being made to the Fraud Liaison Center is about identity theft, but she stresses the importance of peace of mind for customers in knowing who to call. "Many times customers forget about a check they wrote or a charge they made with their credit card, or they simply misplaced their card. Whatever the situation is, U.S. Bank is here to help our customers - whether it's misplaced checks or cards, fraudulent use of an account or identity theft."

The U.S. Bank Fraud Liaison Center is receiving positive feedback from customers they have helped. "Many of the customers we have assisted have told us that we're efficient, and helped ease some of the stress that happens when they've become a victim of fraud. That's what the U.S. Bank Fraud Liaison Center is all about," stated Blegen.

Nearly 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2002, according to a 2003 Federal Trade Commission survey. Account fraud occurs when a person's account information is stolen and the thief uses that information to purchase goods or services without the knowledge or consent of the account holder. Identity theft occurs when a criminal obtains personal information about another person such as a name, address, date of birth, social security number, credit card and other account numbers and assumes that person's identity to commit fraud or other crimes.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), with assets of $189 billion, is the 8th largest financial services holding company in the United States. The company operates 2,201 banking offices and 4,506 ATMs in 24 states and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bancorp is home of the Five Star Service Guarantee which assures customers of certain key banking benefits and services or customers will be paid for their inconvenience. U.S. Bancorp is the parent company of U.S. Bank. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at usbank.com.