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Privacy & Security

Privacy Statement

Welcome to ARCUS Financial Bank's Web site. We appreciate your interest in us and hope to make your on-line experience enjoyable and secure. Your privacy is very important to us and we will make every reasonable effort to safeguard any information we collect. We will not sell your personally identifiable information without your express written permission.

What information will ARCUS Financial Bank collect?

We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:

Information we receive from you on applications or other forms;
Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; and
Information we receive from a consumer reporting agency.

Additionally, we may use "cookies" to help us improve our Web site by tracking your navigation habits and to store some of your preferences. A cookie is a small file created by an Internet site to store information on your computer. Cookies do not allow Web sites to gain access to other information on your computer. Once a cookie is saved on your computer, only the Web site that created the cookie can read it.

What We Disclose

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone, except as permitted by law.

For example, ARCUS Financial Bank is an affiliate of WellPoint, Inc. and its insurance companies and other subsidiaries (the “WellPoint group of companies”) and we may disclose information regarding your account at ARCUS Financial Bank to other WellPoint, Inc. affiliates.

We also will disclose your nonpublic personal information to our service providers, but only to the extent that the disclosure of such information is necessary for us to provide our services and products to you.

Disclosure of Certain Credit Report Information to Affiliates

Federal law permits us to share information about you with our affiliates within the WellPoint group of companies when the information is based solely on your transactions with us, such as whether you pay your bills on time or the type of accounts that you have with us.

However, you may limit our ability to provide an affiliate with personal information from your credit report, or loan application or other information that is not based solely on your transactions with us.
Your choice to limit the sharing of such information by us with our affiliates will apply until you tell us to change your choice. To limit the sharing of this information by us with our affiliates, please contact us:

By telephone: Customer Service at 877-373-9859
By mail: Print, complete and sign this Privacy Form and send it to the address noted on it.

Use of Information for Marketing Purposes

Federal law gives you the right to limit some but not all marketing from our affiliates. Federal law also requires us to give you this notice to tell you about your choice to limit marketing from our affiliates.
You may limit our affiliates in the WellPoint group of companies, such as our insurance company affiliates, from marketing their products or services to you based on your personal information that we collect and share with them. This information may include your income, your account history with us, and your credit score.

Your choice to limit marketing offers from our affiliates will apply until you tell us to change your choice. If you have already notified us that you choose to limit marketing offers from our affiliates, you do not need to act again unless you would like to change your choice.

To limit marketing offers, please contact us:

By telephone: Customer Service at 877-373-9859
By mail: Print, complete and sign this Privacy Form and send it to the address noted on it.

Restrictions on access to your information

We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your nonpublic personal information. We also require our service providers to put similar safeguards in place to protect your nonpublic personal information.

Special Notice for California and Vermont Residents

California and Vermont place additional limits on sharing of nonpublic personal information. If our records indicate that you have a California or Vermont address, we will automatically limit disclosure of your nonpublic personal information within and outside of the WellPoint group of companies only as permitted or required by applicable law or regulation. To opt-in to our sharing of your nonpublic personal information under the circumstances described in this notice as if you were not otherwise a California or Vermont resident, please contact us:

By telephone: Customer Service at 877-373-9859
By mail: By mail: Print, complete and sign this Privacy Form and send it to the address noted on it.

Other States

We will comply with any other applicable state laws that may be enacted that place additional limits on our sharing of your nonpublic personal information. We may do this by sending a separate notice of those rights to you.

Linking to Other Sites

From time to time we will provide links to other Web sites, not owned or controlled by ARCUS Financial Bank. We do this because we think this information might be of interest or use to you or where, as a customer, we can provide you with value-added services. While we do our best to ensure your privacy, we cannot be responsible for the privacy practices of other sites. A link to a non-ARCUS Financial Bank Web site does not constitute or imply endorsement by ARCUS Financial Bank. Additionally, we cannot guarantee the quality or accuracy of information presented on non-WellPoint Web sites. We encourage you to review the privacy practices of any Web site you visit.

How will information collected about me be used?

Information you share with us will be used in a variety of ways that let us serve you better. We may also use this information to perform administrative, technical, hosting or other functions that help us manage our site and deliver new functionality to you.

Use of electronic mail

We may provide email links on our site to further facilitate communication between ARCUS Financial Bank and you. Information collected through electronic mail may be shared with our customer service department, employees or other third parties that perform services on our behalf. Unless otherwise noted, electronic mail on our site is not a completely secure and confidential means of communication. Non-encrypted electronic communications may be accessed and viewed by other Internet users without your knowledge and permission while in transit to us.

Changes to our Web Privacy Statement

The foregoing Web Privacy Statement is effective as of November 17, 2008. ARCUS Financial Bank may change this statement from time to time without notice. This statement is not intended to and does not create any contractual or other legal right in or on behalf of any party.

Internet Security

The ARCUS Financial Bank Online Banking system utilizes a comprehensive security strategy to protect accounts and transactions conducted over the Internet. In addition to our secure login utilizing multi-factor authentication, we use SSL (secure socket layer) encryption technology for everything done in the system. Your browser automatically activates this technology when it attempts to connect to our Online Banking System and it will support 128-bit key lengths. Whenever SSL is securing your communications, the browser will typically indicate the “secure session” by changing the appearance of a small padlock at the bottom of the screen from open to locked. What this means to you is that your communications are encrypted from your browser to our servers at all times, so no unauthorized party can read the information as it is carried over the Internet. Additionally, our servers have been certified by a “Certificate Authority” to assure you that you are actually talking to our servers instead of someone pretending to be us.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a growing global problem, but there are certain things you can do to reduce your vulnerability to ID theft. Below are different ways to deter, detect, and defend yourself against ID theft. For additional information, please visit the FTC Identity Theft website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

Deter Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious crime with serious consequences. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.

There are multiple steps you can take to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft:

Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know with whom you are dealing.
Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect our home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.
Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done to your house.

Detect Suspicious Activity

Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.

Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:

Bills that do not arrive as expected
Unexpected credit cards or account statements
Denials of credit for no apparent reason
Calls or letters about purchases you did not make

Inspect:

Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.
- The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.
- Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports each year. You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Your financial statements. Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make.

Defend Against ID Theft

Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect it.

Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports, and review reports carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for placing an initial 90-day fraud alert; a call to one company is sufficient:
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
- Experian: 1-800-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
- Placing a fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain.
Close accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
- Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or charged without your okay. Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents.
- Use the ID Theft Affidavit at www.ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement.
- Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged.
- Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.
File a police report. File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.
- Online: www.ftc.gov/idtheft
- By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261
- By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580

COMMON WAYS ID THEFT HAPPENS

Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information, including:

Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a “change of address” form.
"Old-Fashioned" Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records from their employers, or bribe employees who have access.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To learn more about ID theft and how to deter, detect, and defend against it, visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft. Or request copies of ID theft resources by writing to:

Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, H-130
Washington, DC 20580

Again, we hope to make your on-line experience enjoyable and secure and thank you for taking the time to read this Privacy Statement.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice or disclosures of nonpublic personal information, please contact Customer Service at 877-373-9859.