An independent cybersecurity review across major Washington banks reveals a wide range of results. Many organizations handle sensitive communications daily, yet show significant gaps in email authentication and transport security.
Using data from audit.emailmenow.com, we evaluated each domain across email, website, and network security — including SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MTA-STS/TLS, and security headers.
Cybersecurity Scores of Major Washington Banks
Overall compliance scores from audit.emailmenow.com, measured June 5, 2026. Re-run any domain at the link to verify.
| Rank | Bank | Domain | Overall Score | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WaFd Bank | wafdbank.com | 78% | Good |
| 2 | Columbia Bank | columbiabank.com | 64% | Above Average |
| 3 | Banner Bank | bannerbank.com | 63% | Above Average |
| 4 | First Financial Northwest | ffnwb.com | 60% | Above Average |
| 5 | Global Federal Credit Union | globalcu.org | 60% | Above Average |
| 6 | Heritage Bank | heritagebanknw.com | 55% | Average |
What the Results Reveal
- Scores span 78% down to 55% — 1 of 6 reach a Good (70%+) posture.
- 1 of 6 scored below 60%, leaving stakeholders exposed to phishing and impersonation.
- Weak authentication undermines compliance expectations and increases BEC and wire-fraud risk.
Why This Matters in Washington
Washington banks are bound by the GLBA Safeguards Rule and FFIEC guidance. Weak email authentication is a direct path to business email compromise and wire fraud.
See also — national audit
Recommendations
- Enforce DMARC (
p=reject), strict SPF, and DKIM signing. - Add MTA-STS and website security headers.
- Run periodic domain audits and security awareness training.
Check any organization’s posture. Run a free Instant Cybersecurity Audit at audit.emailmenow.com/?industry=financial-advisors.
Contact EmailMeNow IT Consulting for help with email security hardening and compliance documentation.
Source & methodology: Overall compliance scores from the free scan at audit.emailmenow.com, measured June 5, 2026 — each domain checked for email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), transport security (MTA-STS/TLS), website security headers, and network security. Re-run any domain at the link to verify.