Independence Bank

Privacy Policy

This policy is effective as of July 09, 2009.

Overview
At Independence Bank, respecting the privacy and security of your personal information is important to us. This notice summarizes our Online Privacy Policy and how we fulfill our commitment to protect your personal information. We want you to understand what information we collect and how we use it in connection with your use of our site. In addition, we want you to know how we keep your personal information secure.

Definitions
"We," "Our," and "Us" refer to Independence Bank. "You" and "your" refer to our customers (including former customers) who seek or obtain financial products or services for personal, family or household purposes. "Affiliate" means a company that is owned or controlled by the same company that owns or controls us. Ownership does not mean complete ownership, but means owning enough to have control. "Nonaffiliated Third Party" means a person who we do not employ or a company that is not our affiliate. "Nonpublic Personal Information" means personally identifiable financial information you provide to us in connection with your use of our site. Nonpublic personal information does not include information that is available from public sources, such as telephone directories or government records. Hereafter, we will also use the term "Personal Information" to mean nonpublic personal information as defined below in this Online Privacy Policy.

Confidentiality and Security
We understand the importance of keeping your Personal Information confidential and are committed to protecting your privacy. We hold our employees to strict standards of conduct to ensure the confidentiality of your personal information. We restrict access to Nonpublic Personal Information about you to those employees who need to know that Information we collect about you by maintaining physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your Nonpublic Personal Information.

Information We Collect
When you visit our website or use our electronic banking services, there may be times when you are asked to provide information about you that is personally identifiable ("Personal Information"). This may include the following

• your first, middle and last name,
• your home or other physical address (including street name and name of a city or town),
• your driver's license number, issue date, and expiration date
• your e-mail address,
• a telephone number,
• social security number,
• account number,
• date of birth,
• mother's maiden name,
• password or any other identifier that permits physical or online contact with you, and
• validation questions.

Personal Information might be needed or requested from you for you to register for online banking or other services, or to fill out our forms or applications for services, for special promotions or contests, or to accomplish transactions you request. This may result in sharing of Personal Information with third parties (such as data processors or service bureaus) as part of servicing your accounts or transactions.

Cookies
"Cookies" are a technology that can collect, store and sometimes track information. A cookie is a small data file that can be placed on your hard drive when you visit certain websites. We may use cookies in this manner. If you wish, you may modify your browser to disable cookies, including session cookies.

E-Mail
You may also decide to send us information that personally identifies you, for example, in an e-mail message. We will use that information to respond to the inquiry and provide accurate information in response to questions.

If you visit our website or engage in any online services that we offer, then we may collect and store these categories of Personal Information. We will not share the Personal Information you provide us at our website or by e-mail, except as described below.

The Personal Information we obtain from you is stored with us if it is to be used on an on-going basis.

Sharing Information
We do not sell your Personal Information to third parties. Presently, we disclose Personal Information to third parties about our customers or former customers only as permitted by law in connection with the administration, processing or servicing of accounts.

As permitted by law, we share information with parties which perform services for us on your behalf, such as the printing and mailing of your statements, and online service providers. This may also include disclosure to a credit reporting agency or in response to a subpoena or other legal process; disclosure to protect against fraud, or as part of an audit or examination; and disclosure to protect and defend our rights and property or to act in an emergency or to protect someone's safety.

As we develop our business, we may also buy and sell assets, and your Personal Information may be one of the transferred assets. In the event that we are acquired by another company, your personally identifiable information may be part of the assets transferred to the acquiring party.
Please be aware that other services, such as insurance or investment services, provided by other companies via links to their website from our website, are not subject to this policy. We encourage you to review a third party's privacy policies before sharing your Personal Information.

Maintaining the Accuracy of Your Information
We want to keep the information about you and your account (including any information you have entered through our website) accurate and up-to-date. You may verify the accuracy of your information about you or your account be reviewing your account statements, using our Online Banking service, or dialing our toll free customer service phone number. If you ever find that information about you and your account is inaccurate, incomplete or out dated, please notify us immediately by calling (888) 414-0500.

Former Customers
If you decide to close your account(s) we will adhere to our online privacy policies and practices provided in this Online Privacy Policy.

Updates to Our Online Privacy Policy
Our Online Privacy Policy is subject to change from time to time. You can always view our current Online Privacy Policy on our website at www.independence-bank.net or request a copy by phone at (888) 414-0500. Also, the effective date stated at the top of this policy will be revised in conjunction with any material updates performed.

Online Banking
You may learn more about Independence Bank and the services we offer by logging on to our website www.independence-bank.net. If you wish to access the Online Banking component of our website, you will be asked to provide us with Personal Information that we use to verify your identity. You may also be asked to provide us with information relating to your online transaction requests, such as bill payment payees, account numbers, and payment addresses. We do not disclose information that we collect from our website to anyone, except as mentioned above under the section entitled "Sharing Information."

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly solicit data from, and do not knowingly market to, persons under the age of 13.