Authentication prevents someone from pretending to be you or your bank. Return to the top of the page . Firewall is a colorful term for a security measure that you can think of as a gateway - when you reach it, you must have clearance or you will not pass beyond it. Only customers of your bank will pass beyond its firewall, and only you have access to your account information. The firewall also prevents any unauthorized export of information from the FirstMerit's systems, so this is a two-way protection.
Firewalls are a common and tested Internet security feature.
Return to the top of the page . Certificates are digital documents that verify the bank's identity to you, and your identity to the bank. An SSL connection will not be established if either side lacks a security certificate. We use VeriSign , a leader in online security. Return to the top of the page .