While some banks advised customers to keep a close watch on their bank account activity shortly after the major Target security breach in December 2013, Community Bank of Oak Park and River Forest helped customers recover by issuing 250 new debit cards and account numbers to affected individuals.

"We ran reports to indicate who might be affected by this breach," said Community Bank President Walter Healy in an interview with NBC 5 Thursday, "and we reached out to those specific customers."

Chicago resident Monica Alvarado was one of the people who received a Community Bank debit card soon after the security breach.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, now on a task force to investigate breaches, suggests that possible victims of credit and debit card theft close and re-open their bank accounts.

Madigan also puts pressure on retail companies to encrypt store data and update software.

Possible solutions to decrease future security breaches involve embedding chips and switching magnetic strips on debit and credit cards.

Contact:
Email: ashley@oakpark.com Twitter: @aadlisenby