Privacy Policy
  

PRIVACY POLICY

INTRODUCTION

The banking profession in general and First State Bank in particular have, traditionally, maintained high standards of confidentiality even before it became law.  As a bank, the reputation of honesty, integrity, and security is vital to our success.  This Privacy Policy is written to insure that all personnel understand and adhere to the basic principles of confidentiality.  Additionally, it is important to future customers to know that their information will be strictly guarded and that these protective safeguards are in place and a part of our daily routine.

RECOGNITION OF EXCEPTION OF PRIVACY

First State Bank recognizes and respects the importance our customers place on their privacy and the confidentiality of their financial information.  All bank personnell are charged with safeguarding customer privacy and maintaining the strictest confidentiality of banking matters including the collection of nonpublic information about our customers from the following sources:

  • General or specific customer information on applications, computer, paper regarding account status, business problems, etc.,
  • General or specific information of customer transactions with us, our affiliates or others,
  • General or specific information we receive from a consumer reporting agency, or
  • Information that we receive through our customer identification Program.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

First State Bank emloyees will not share personal or financial customer information with outside parties except when legally required (such as, to comply with federal or state laws or regulations and government or court orders) or when legally permitted ot serve the customer's interest ( such as disclosure to reputanle credit reporting agenciers).  Information will only be disclosed to third parties under the following conditions:

  • Where it is necessary to complete a transaction initiated by the customer,
  • In order to report the existence and condition of an account to companies such as reputable credit bureaus or merchants,
  • In order to comply with government or court orders,
  • If we have written permission from the account holder.

     In general, First State Bank employees do not:

  • Disclose general or specific information including policies, procedures, approval practices, etc., relating to banking information including personnel responsibilities,
  • Disclose passwords, keys, combinations, access devices or other equipment or software information that would compromise the security of any asset, customer or bank information.

COLLECTION, RETENTION AND USE OF INFORMATION

First State Bank may collect, retain and use personal information about customers.  For example, we will obtain a credit report for an outo loan, but only as we believe it to be resonably useful in administering our business and to provide products, services, and other opportiunities to our customers.

MAINTENANCE OF ACCURATE INFORMATION

First State Bank has established procedures to ensure that a customer's financial information is accurate, current, and complete in accourdance with reasonable commercial standards.

In the event a customer disputes the accuracy or comleteness of First State Bank's data, a complete investigation of the dispute will be conducted and the results reprted to the customer.  Any correction needed will be made in a timely manner.

EMPLOYEE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

All First State Bank employees are educated on the importance of confidentiality and customer privacy.  They are thoroughly trained to learn and follow our Privacy Policy.  Employees with access to customer information are required to adhere to the Privacy Policy.

Any First State Bank employee that violated the Privacy Policy will be subject to disciplinary measures (warnings, suspensions, reprimands) and possible termination of employment.

Fist State Bank restricts access to nonpunlic personal information about our customers to thouse who need to know that information necessary to perform their job and provide products or services to our customers.  We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard our cistomers; nonpunlic personal information.

PROTECTION OF INFORMATION VIA ESTABLISHED SECURITY PROCEDURES

Customer information will only be disclosed to authorized account holders and only after the indentigication of the account holder has been verified.  Verifying information may include sacial decurity number, date of birth, signature and other identifying information.  If the information request is made over the telephone and we are uncertain about the identity of the person calling, we will ask that the request be made in writing or in person.

MAINTAINING CUSTOMER PRIVACY IN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THIRD PARTIES

If customer information is provided to a third party, First State Bank will insist that the third party adhere to similar privacy principles that provide for keeping such ingormation confidential.  An example would be when a customer uses the bank as a credit reference and they are giving the bank the authority to release credit information to the requesting entity.  Banks share credit information with each other as protection against con artists and unworthy credit applicants.  This is a normal part of the credit granting process and is used to support credit decisions and is based on assurances of source confidentiality and that the information will be protected.  Exercising extreme care when exchanging information mitigates the privacy risks.  The bank's senior loan officer is responsible for developing and implementing procedures used in the exchange of this information.

DISCLOSURE OF PRIVACY NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS

A copy of the First State Bank's Privacy Notice will be provided at the time a customer relationship is stablished with a consumer and not less than annually during the continuation of the relationship.

INTERNET PRIVACY

When a customer visits the banks's wensite to view any pages, read product information, or use our online calculators and tools, they may do so without telling us who they are and without revealing any personal information.  While we do not collect identifying information about visitors to our site, we do use standard software to collect information for the strict purpose of tracking activity on our site (such as what time is the site accessed and what items were of intrest to the cisitor), which helps us to provide new and better features to our website and to ascertain which features are most popular.  The information we normally collect and store is:

  • The name of the Internet Service Provider,
  • The website that referred the customer to us (if any),
  • The date and time the pages were accessed, and
  • The number of pages requested.

There are instances where the customer may elect to provide us with personal information.  If they fill in one of our feedback or request forms or send us an e-mail, they are transmitting the information that appears to in the form of the message.  This will typically include information such as name, mailing, or e-mail address, the kind of request being made, and any other information necessary to fulfill the customer request.  No personal identifying information is transferred that is not entered at the customer's election.  This information is used internally and only for the purpose of fulfilling the request or for directly contacting that customer.  First State Bank does not give, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any information to any organization, individual, business or entity for any purpose other than was specifically mentioned above.

When a customer submits personal information via one of our feedback or application forms, that information is encrypted or scrambled by their browse before it is transmitted back to our website.  This effectively prevents anyone from intercepting or viewing any personal information transmitted through our system.

Our website is not targeted to or marketed to children.  We market only to adults or parents who want their children to learn the principles of managing money with proper supervision.

Further Information Regarding First State Bank's Privacy Policy

Any current or prospective customer may receive an additional copy of the Privacy Notice by calling (940) 325-7821 or sending a verbal or written request to:

First State Bank of Mineral Wells                                                                                                                   ATTN: Shirley Maner                                                                                                                                         PO Box 1528                                                                                                                                               Mineral Wells, Texas 76068
  
  
NOTICE: NOTICE OF CHANGES IN TEMPORARY FDIC INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TRANSACTION ACCOUNTS All funds in a "noninterest-bearing transaction account" are insured in full by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from December 31, 2010, through December 31, 2012. This temporary unlimited coverage is in addition to, and separate from, the coverage of at least $250,000 available to depositors under the FDIC's general deposit insurance rules. The term "noninterest-bearing transaction account" includes a traditional checking account or demand deposit account on which the insured depository institution pays no interest. It does not include other accounts, such as traditional checking or demand deposit accounts that may earn interest, NOW accounts, money market deposit accounts, and Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts ("IOLTAs"). For information about temporary FDIC insurance coverage of transaction accounts, visit www.fdic.gov.