Stanford Federal Credit Union values your trust. We would never abuse that trust by selling information about you to other businesses. As a matter of fact, unless a specific transaction requires it we don’t part with any member or account information, period. An example of this is - We use the services of a credit reporting bureau to approve loan applications.

The goal of this Privacy Statement is to share with you how we use and safeguard the information you share with us. First, we work hard to maintain that trust and help you feel comfortable about your relationship with us. Your trust and comfort are prime reasons for the following SFCU policy outlining our commitment to vigilantly safeguard your personal information in our files. To meet your financial needs, we often need to obtain personal information about you from a variety of sources. We want you to know when and with whom we honor third-party requests to share information, as well as those we never honor. It is our goal to continue earning and deserving your trust by doing as much as humanly and technically possible to keep your personal information private, secure and confidential.

Types and Sources of Information We Collect:

To serve you effectively, to make informed and intelligent credit decisions and to ensure the safety and soundness of all SFCU operations, we need current personal information on file for all members. Completed SFCU forms and applications are a major source of this information. In addition, to eliminate unauthorized or fraudulent access to your accounts, and expose anyone attempting to profit by stealing your identity, every member’s personal information is regularly supplemented, updated and verified with data from other sources. For example, we collect and store:

• Your name, address, phone/fax numbers, e-mail address, birth date, sources and amounts of income, Social Security number, citizenship information, tax identification numbers and other personal information from SFCU applications and forms, as well as other sources
• Information we obtain from current or past employers, other financial institutions, and sources when we verify your responses on our applications and forms, including payment histories on any applicable outstanding credit or loans you have, as well as applicable transactions at retailers and/ or other financial institutions
• Account balances, credit card usage, payment histories for any credit or loans; and parties to your transactions (for example, joint members on savings accounts, and co-borrowers or guarantors on loans), on your SFCU accounts and transactions, as well as other sources with whom you have a financial history, when applicable
• Your credit history and other information affecting your credit standing from consumer reporting agencies
  

Types of Information and With Whom We Do and Don’t Share:

If we share your personal information with a third party, you can count on the fact that it’s either a business necessity or required by law. As you would have it, we’re pretty stingy about how much, if any, of your personal information we’ll share, and who we’ll share it with. Here’s a list of third parties with whom we may share your personal information, and even then, only to the extent necessary:

• Companies we’ve researched and developed a relationship with to provide us with necessary supplies or operational assistance, including but not limited to: facilitating our offering and delivery of financial services to you; making transactions on your behalf; following and accomplishing to your satisfaction the intent of any instructions you may have given us; the maintenance and storage of our accounts and records; and our marketing activities. These companies include data processing vendors, bill payment processors, businesses that print our checks and statements, and service offerings. We ensure the confidentiality of your personal information by insisting these companies meet our stringent security requirements as a condition of their business with us.

• Consumer and credit reporting agencies (to comply with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act)
• Law enforcement or government when required by nonaffiliated third parties as permitted or
• required by law, or to whom you’ve given us your express consent
• Other third parties identified in your express, written consent
  

We do not sell or give our member lists to anyone for any reason, including catalogs, direct mail companies, magazines or any other business or service provider. Unless required to do so by law, we never share your personal information with any government agency.

Stanford FCU’s Children’s Privacy Policy

We recognize that protecting children's identities and online privacy is important. Stanford Federal Credit Union does not collect any personal information from a child by any means.  

The credit union will not request that children submit personal information online nor will the credit union enable children to make personal information public through our web site. Our online financial services offered through the Credit Union's Web site are not designed for nor directed toward children under age 13.  

If you have any questions about our privacy practices please write to us at:

Stanford Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 10690
Palo Alto, CA 94303-0843

Security Precautions and Procedures:

Your personal information, as well as your money, stays safe and confidential in our keeping. Internally, your personal information can be accessed only by employees who have a management-approved need for it, so we can meet your request for a service or product. Additionally, our employees receive training that stresses the high degree of importance SFCU places on maintaining confidentiality and member privacy.

We employ the latest and most effective high-tech physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your information and we’re continually assessing new technologies designed to provide you with increased security.

Opting Out:

Other financial institutions freely and willingly share your personal information with non-affiliated third parties and, by law, must give their customers a chance to “just say no” and put a stop to it with what’s called an “opt-out” privilege.

SFCU, however, doesn’t have the same legal requirement to give you an “opt-out” opportunity for a simple reason that should delight you - it’s not necessary. Our extensive restrictions on who we’ll share your personal information with, as well as how, why and when we’ll share it, mean you never have to tell us no.

SFCU’s Web Site and Links:

Although our Web site is encrypted to protect your electronic relationship with us on the Internet, we want you to know that our site contains links to other Web sites. Although we thoroughly research the companies sponsoring these other linked Web sites prior to developing a business relationship with them, you need to be aware that we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

We encourage your diligence when leaving SFCU’s Web site by reading available privacy statements of any other sites that collect personally identifiable information. The online Privacy Policy you’re reading applies only to information collected by Stanford Federal Credit Union.

What if You Leave the Credit Union?

The stipulations of this SFCU Privacy Policy are applied equally to current, inactive and former members.

Need to Correct or Update Your Personal Information?

SFCU realizes a time-honored and incontrovertible truth - things change. People change too, and we encourage you to waste no time contacting us with any updates or corrections to any personal information we have on you. Here are your convenient options:

• Change of Address (CUOnline)
• Change Phone Number and/or E-mail Address ONLY (CUOnline)
• Call our Member Services Department from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (650) 723-2509; or if you’re outside the 650 area code, call us toll-free at (888) 723-7328
• Send e-mail to: info@sfcu.org
• Mail us a letter at: P.O. Box 10690 Palo Alto, CA 94303-0843
  

Your Thoughts, Comments and Ideas Are Always Welcome!

We’re very serious about the safekeeping of your personal information, as well as your money. It is of the utmost importance to us to earn and keep your trust so you feel comfortable doing business with us. If you’d like to share any thoughts, comments, concerns or ideas to help us enhance your trust or comfort level, simply call, write, e-mail, or visit us in person. We appreciate and look forward to your input.

Updated January 2003