At E-Central Credit Union, we care about your privacy—both online and on the go. This Online Privacy and Cookie Notice (“Notice”) explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website, use our mobile app on a smartphone, tablet, or other device (our “App”), or use any of our online services that link to this Notice.
By using our website or App, you are agreeing to the terms outlined here and giving us permission to collect and use your information as described in this Notice.
When we mention “personal information” or “personally identifiable information,” we are talking about details like your name, mailing address, email, phone number, Social Security number, or any other information that could identify you. We collect this information when you choose to share it with us—like when you fill out a form or use features in our App.
INFORMATION WE COLLECT ONLINE – AND HOW WE COLLECT IT
You are welcome to browse our website to explore our products, services, and rates without sharing any personal information. To help us improve your experience, we may use software tools and cookies to collect information about how visitors use our website. This helps us understand what is working well, where we can improve, and how to create more helpful services and marketing for our members and visitors. We may collect information like the date and time you visited, the pages you viewed, how long you stayed, your browser type, IP address, and the websites you visited just before and after ours. If you are a E-Central Credit Union member and use our online banking, we may also track your activity while you are logged in to help keep your account secure and improve our services. As part of our security measures, you will need to enter personal login details—like your username and password—and we may use cookies to verify your identity during those sessions.
- Use of Cookies and Similar Tracking Technologies
The use of cookies and similar tracking technologies—such as pixels, clear GIFs, tags, and web beacons—is a common practice across the internet. Cookies are small text files that store limited pieces of information and are downloaded to your computer, smartphone, tablet, or other device when you visit a website.
Cookies serve a variety of purposes. They help websites and mobile apps recognize your device, remember your preferences, make navigation smoother, display content more effectively, personalize your experience, and provide you advertisements for products and services that you might be interested in. They are also used to collect statistical data about how websites and apps are used, which helps improve their design and functionality and can assist in troubleshooting or answering questions about how they work.
- Types of Cookies and How We Use Them
Cookies set by us are known as first-party cookies. We may also use third-party cookies, which come from domains other than the one you are visiting—typically for advertising or marketing purposes. Both first-party and third-party cookies can fall into any of the categories described below.
Cookies can also differ by how long they stay on your device. Session cookies expire when you close your browser—they are temporary and used only for that session. Persistent cookies, on the other hand, stay on your device for a set period and help recognize you across multiple visits. These cookies usually have an expiration date and are automatically deleted once that time passes.
When you use our online banking services, we do not transmit any personally identifiable information through cookies. Our online banking uses temporary session cookies, non-persistent cookies, or pre-expired cookies to support our strict security standards. These cookies prevent pages from being stored or cached on your computer, ensuring that every page is freshly loaded from our server.
For those using our mobile banking app or bill pay services, we may also use persistent cookies to help quickly recognize your device type and improve your experience. These cookies also do not store any personal information.
Strictly Necessary Cookies. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
Performance Cookies. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
Marketing Cookies. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
- How to Control and Delete Cookies
- Using Your Browser
Many of the cookies used on our website can be enabled or disabled through our consent tool or by disabling the cookies through your browser. To disable cookies through your browser, follow the instructions usually located within the “Help,” “Tools” or “Edit” menus in your browser. Please note that disabling a cookie or category of cookies does not delete the cookie from your browser unless manually completed through your browser function.
A growing number of browsers are adopting Global Privacy Control (“GPC”). The GPC is a technical specification for transmitting universal opt-out signal that communicates a consumer’s choice to opt-out of the sale or sharing of their personal information for behavioral advertising and, if required by the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), or other laws, website operators must honor GPC signals. Since we are not subject to the CCPA or other legal requirements to respond to GPC signals, our website currently does not respond to GPC signals. If and when we are required to do so under applicable law, our website will honor GPC signals.
- Using Your Mobile Device
Some mobile devices come with a non-permanent advertising identifier or ID which gives companies the ability to serve targeted ads to a specific mobile device. In many cases, you can turn off mobile device ad tracking or you can reset the advertising identifier at any time within your mobile device privacy settings. You may also choose to turn off location tracking on your mobile device. By turning off ad tracking or location tracking on your mobile device, you may still see the same number of ads as before, but they may be less relevant because they will not be based on your interests.
- Advertising on Third-Party Websites
Online activity data collected on our website or apps may be used to advertise our products and services that may be of interest to you on third party websites. Our service providers that deliver these advertisements are subject to their own privacy policies. To explore options for opting out of online advertising, visit http://optout.aboutads.info/ or click on the AdChoices icon in an ad and follow the instructions. You may also use the Network Advertising Initiative's (NAI) Opt-Out Tool by visiting https://optout.networkadvertising.org/?c=1. Furthermore, you may download the Google Analytics opt-out plug in, available at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/, to prevent your data from being collected and used by Google Analytics. Moreover, there may be other tools provided by the publishing platform to enable you to opt-out. Opting out relies on information in the unique cookies placed on your web browser by our service providers, so if you delete cookies, use a different device, or change web browsers, you may need to opt out again. Additionally, we may partner with websites like Google and Yahoo to display ads to you based on search terms you use on those websites. Please review the privacy policies of those websites for instructions on how to limit these ads. Please note that you may still receive general online advertising from us even after you adjust your ad preferences with certain web search engines or opt out of online advertising through AdChoices or the NAI tool. Such advertising, however, should not be based on online activity data or search term information.
However, since we do not own or control these third-party resources, we cannot ensure that you will stop receiving our advertisements by using these tools or that such advertisements will not be based on online activity data or search term information, and we do not guarantee the functionality or availability of such third-party tools. While we work with vendors and service providers who are contractually obligated to comply with our policies to protect information and to comply with all applicable laws regarding the collection, safeguarding, processing and disclosure of personal information, such vendors and service providers are solely responsible for cookies, cookie tracking and your choices for managing cookies.
- Third Party Website Cookies That We Cannot Control
When using our website, you may be directed to other websites for such activities as surveys, completing job applications, and to view content hosted on those sites such as an embedded video or news article. These websites may use their own cookies. We do not have control over the placement of cookies by other websites you visit, even if you are directed to them from our website.
- Geolocation
When allowed by you, our mobile App collects your location data to provide branches and ATMs near you. Location access can be allowed once, only while using the App, or you can choose to not allow location data to be collected.
- IP Addresses
If you log on to online banking, you pass through a "firewall" used for security purposes and the Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the computer you are using may be identified. The IP address does not identify you personally. In certain instances, it may also obtain other information about your computer to better identify you as an online user. This information may be retained in case it is needed for security or protection of member information.
- Social Media.
We may collect information, such as your likes, interests, feedback, and preferences when you interact with our official pages on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram or from our social media partners (but only if you choose to share with them and they, in turn, share that information with us). Please refer to the policies of those companies to better understand your rights and obligations with regard to your activity on those websites.
5) Contact Information and Images
With your permission, our app may be granted access to your phonebook or contact information in your mobile device to provide various features. We will only disclose this information as necessary to enable such features and to comply with federal, state, or local laws, or other legal requirements.
Our app may request access to your camera for you to be able to use our remote deposit capture service. The front and back pictures of the checks you sent will only be used for our remote deposit capture service. Such images will only be accessible by us and our service providers that help enable our remote deposit capture service. We will only disclose the check photos to third parties if necessary to process your remote deposit and to comply with federal, state, or local laws, or other legal requirements.
Additionally, if you are applying for membership or a loan on our website or App, we may ask you to upload a copy of your government issued identification card for us to comply with our regulatory requirements. We will only use this information to open your account and disclose this information to third parties as necessary to process your membership application and to comply with federal, state, or local laws, or other legal requirements.
6) Financial Information and Government Identification
Our online banking service on our website and App collects financial and payment information to process transactions such as bill payments. Furthermore, our website and App may prompt you to provide a copy of your government issued identification card or collect government identification numbers in connection with an application for membership or a loan with us. We will never publicly disclose any of your financial information, payment information or government issued identification card or card number. Such information may be disclosed only to our service providers for the purpose of processing transactions you request from us or maintaining your accounts with us, and such service provides are restricted from forward transfers of such information to other parties except in furtherance of processing your requested transactions or compliance with federal, state, or local laws, or other legal requirements.
HOW WE USE AND SHARE INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We do not and will not sell your personal information. We only share your information as required to meet legal and regulatory obligations. We share your personal information that you have provide to us in connection with applying for membership and/or financial products with us (“personally identifiable financial information”) with affiliates and third parties in accordance with the practices set forth in the U.S. Consumer Privacy Notice.
With respect to other information that we collect from you online, which includes personal identifiable information, as well as online activity data that does not personally identify you or your household, we use such information for a variety of reasons, including:
- to present our website and its contents to you;
- to enable you to use online tools or perform certain online transactions;
- to service and manage your account, including responding to or updating you on inquiries, or to contact you about your accounts or feedback;
- to offer you special products and services and deliver advertisements to you in the form of banner ads, interstitial pages (ads that appear as you sign in or sign out of your online accounts) or other promotions;
- to analyze whether our ads, promotions, and offers are effective;
- to help us determine whether you might be interested in new products or services, and to improve existing products and services;
- to verify your identity and/or location to allow access to your accounts and conduct online transactions;
- to manage fraud and data security risk;
- to personalize and optimize your website browsing and app experiences by examining which parts of our website you visit or which aspect of our apps you find most useful;
- to comply with federal, state or local laws; civil, criminal or regulatory investigations; or other legal requirements;
- to share with trusted third parties who are contractually obligated to keep such information confidential; and
- to use it only to provide the services we have asked them to perform.
We disclose your personal information and non-personally identifiable online activity data to third parties for our business purposes. The general categories of third parties that we share with are as follows:
- ·our third-party service providers;
- ·other companies to bring you co-branded services, products or programs;
- third parties that help us advertise our products or services;
- third parties to whom you or your agents authorize us to disclose your personal information in connection with products or services we provide to you;
- third parties or affiliates in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a sale, consolidation or merger of our company or affiliated business; and
- ·other third parties to comply with legal requirements such as the demands of applicable subpoenas and court orders; to verify or enforce our terms of use, our other rights, or other applicable policies; to address fraud, security or technical issues; to respond to an emergency; or otherwise, to protect the rights, property or security of our customers or third parties.
MISCELLANEOUS
Updating Your Personal Information: Keeping your account information up-to-date is important. You can access and/or update your personal information in connection with your account or application by logging on to your account online or contacting us.
Security: Protecting the confidentiality and security of your personal and financial information is our highest priority. We value your trust, and we understand that handling your financial information with care is one of our most important responsibilities. Our policies, procedures, and protections are always evolving to adapt to new strategies used by fraudsters. Our security measures include ensuring that our websites, online services, online banking, mobile banking, and online applications are hosted on secure servers, have SSL certificates, device safeguards, and secured files and buildings, as well as oversight of our third-party service providers that have access to your personal information and limiting our employees’ access to your personal information on a need to know basis.
What You Can Do to Help Protect Your Information: We are committed to protecting your privacy. We suggest you follow these guidelines:
- Protect your account numbers, card numbers, personal identification numbers (PINs), and passwords. Never keep your PIN with your debit or credit card which would provide access to your accounts if your card is lost or stolen.
- Use caution when disclosing your account numbers, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information to other persons. If someone calls you, explains the call is on behalf of us and asks for your account number, you should beware. Our staff will have access to your information and will not need to ask for it.
- It is important that we have your current information so we may reach you. If we detect potentially fraudulent or unauthorized activity or use of any account, we will attempt to contact you immediately. If your address, phone number, or email changes, please let us know.
Linking to Other Websites: Our websites, online services, online or mobile banking may contain links to third party websites. Although these links were established to provide you with access to useful information, we do not control and are not responsible for any of these websites or their contents. We do not know or control what information third-party websites may collect regarding your personal information. We provide these links to you only as a convenience, and we do not endorse or make any representations about using such third-party websites or any information, software or other products or materials found there, or any results that may be obtained from using them. We encourage you to review the privacy statements of websites you choose to link to from our websites so that you can understand how those websites collect, use, and share your information. We are not responsible for the security or privacy practices of the linked websites.
Protecting Children’s Privacy: We respect the privacy of children and comply with the practices established under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”). Our website and App do not target children. We do not knowingly collect or retain personally identifiable information from consumers under the age of thirteen. We may, however, collect information about consumers under the age of thirteen on our website or App directly from their parents or legal guardians in connection with the financial products and service that we offer to our members, such as, without limitation, adding children as beneficiaries to bank accounts. For more information about COPPA please visit the Federal Trade Commission website: www.ftc.gov.
Data Retention: We may retain your personal information and online activity data even if you decide to terminate your membership with us, close your accounts with us, and/or delete our app or cease use of our websites based on the following:
- Laws and regulations. We are a regulated financial institution that is subject to laws and regulations governing our retention of information pertaining to our members, applicants for credit union membership, loans and other financial products and services. We are also an employer and, thus, we are subject to labor laws governing how long we must retain information about applicants for employment and current and former employees. Therefore, applicable laws and regulations will govern how long we retain information pertaining to you.
- Fraud Prevention and Security. We will retain information that we need for fraud prevention and security purposes.
- Contracts. We will retain information for as long as necessary to comply with our contractual obligations to you, our service providers, and other third parties, as permitted by law.
- Legal Claims and Defenses. We may retain information for such a period as necessary or advisable to preserve legal claims and defenses.
Opting Out of Email or SMS Communications. If you have signed-up to receive our email marketing communications, you can unsubscribe any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link included at the bottom of the email or other electronic communication. Alternatively, you can opt out of receiving marketing communications by contacting us at the contact information under “Contact Us” below. If you provide your phone number through the online banking services, we may send you notifications by SMS, such as providing a fraud alert. You may opt out of SMS communications by unlinking your mobile phone number through the online banking services.
Contact Us: You may contact us regarding any question, concern or matter pertaining to this Notice at:
Phone: 1-626-799-6000
Mail: E-Central Credit Union, 990 S. Fair Oaks Ave. Pasadena, CA 91105
Updates to this Notice: From time to time, we may change this Notice. The effective date of this Notice, as indicated above, reflects the last time this Notice was revised. Any changes to this Notice will become effective when we post the revised Notice on our website. Your use of our websites, online services, or online or mobile banking following these changes means that you accept the revised Notice.