At Bank of the South, we understand that privacy is an important concern for our customers, and we recognize our responsibility to keep the information the customers provide to us secure and confidential. We recognize that whether the customer is an existing customer or is considering a deposit relationship with Bank of the South, he has an interest in how we collect, retain, and use information about him and his business relationship with us. We respect the privacy of our customers and are committed to treating customer information responsibly.
We collect, retain, and use information about our customers only where we reasonably believe that it will help administer our business or provide products, services, and other opportunities for our customer. We will tell the customer why we are collecting and retaining it upon request. We use information to protect and administer their records, accounts, and funds; to comply with certain laws and regulations; to help us to design or improve our products and services; and to understand their financial needs so that we can provide them with quality products and services.
Maintenance of Accurate Information: We continually strive to maintain complete and accurate information about the customer and their accounts. Should a customer believe that our records contain inaccurate or incomplete information, they may notify us. We will investigate their concerns and correct any inaccuracies.
Employee Access to Information: At Bank of the South, employee access to customer information is authorized for business purposes only and is based on the sensitivity of the information and the need of the employee to know. We remind employees regularly of their obligations in regard to customer privacy. Misuse or disregard of this obligation will result in disciplinary action, including termination in appropriate cases.
Protection of Information via Established Security Procedures: Bank of the South is committed to the security of our customers' financial and personal information. All of our operational and data processing systems are in a secure environment that protects customer account information from being accessed by third parties. We maintain and grant access to customer information only in accordance with our internal security standards.
Restrictions on the Disclosure of Account Information: We do not reveal specific information about customer accounts or other personally identifiable data to outside parties for their independent use unless:
-
The customer requests or authorizes it
-
The information is provided to help complete a transaction initiated by the customer
-
The information is provided to a reputable credit bureau or similar information reporting agency
-
The disclosure otherwise is lawfully permitted or required. We do not provide account or personal information to non Bank of the South companies for the purpose of independent telemarketing or direct mail marketing of any non-financial products or services of those companies.
Information Reported to Consumer Reporting Agencies: Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to notify us if we have reported inaccurate information about your account to any Consumer Reporting Agency. Such notices should be sent in writing and include your complete name, current address, social security number, telephone number, account number, type of account, specific item of dispute and the reason you believe the information reported is in error. Send your notice to: Bank of the South, P. O. Box 3229, Pensacola, FL 32507. We will investigate your complaint and correct any inaccuracies and confirm our actions to you.
Your request must be mailed separately from any other bank correspondence. Please note that you may make this request only on your own behalf and not for anyone else, including joint account holders. We will process your request as soon as possible after we receive it.
Maintaining Customer Privacy in Business Relationships With Third Parties: When the Bank conducts business with third parties, it requires its vendors and suppliers to maintain similar standards of conduct regarding the privacy of personally identifiable customer information provided to them.
Providing Privacy Information to Customers and Responding to Inquiries: At Bank of the South, we value our customer relationships. We want the customers to understand how we use the information they provide and our commitment to ensuring their personal privacy. If the customers have any questions about how we protect their confidential information, they may contact us at 850-456-5722.
Security Statement
This Internet Banking System brings together a combination of industry-approved security technologies to protect you, our customer. It features password-controlled system entry, a VeriSign-issued Digital bank's server, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol for data encryption, and a router loaded with a firewall to secure and regulate the inflow and outflow of server traffic.
Secure Access and Verifying User Authenticity: To begin a session with the bank's server the user must key in a Log-in ID and a password. Our system, the Internet Banking System, uses a "3 strikes and you're out" lock-out mechanism to deter users from repeated login attempts. After three unsuccessful login attempts, the system locks the user out, requiring either a designated wait period or a phone call to the bank to verify the password before re-entry into the system. Upon successful login, the Digital ID from VeriSign, the experts in digital identification certificates, authenticates the user's identity and establishes a secure session with that visitor.
Secure Data Transfer: Once the server session is established, the user and the server are in a secured environment. Because the server has been certified as a 128-bit secure server by VeriSign, data traveling between the user and the server is encrypted with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. With SSL, data that travels between the bank and customer is encrypted and can only be decrypted with the public and private key pair. In short, the bank's server issues a public key to the end user's browser and creates a temporary private key. These two keys are the only combination possible for that session. When the session is complete, the keys expire and the whole process starts over when a new end user makes a server session.
Router and Firewall: Requests must filter through a router and firewall before they are permitted to reach the server. A router is a type of electronic hardware that works in conjunction with the firewall, a type of security software, to filter, block, and direct traffic coming to the server. The configuration begins by blocking ALL traffic and then opens holes only when necessary to process acceptable data requests, such as retrieving web pages or sending customer requests to the bank.
In Case of Errors Or Questions About Transactions Covered In This Agreement: Customer must call Bank of the South at 850-456-5722 or write to Bank of the South, P. O. Box 3229, Pensacola, FL 32516 as soon as possible if Customer thinks his statement is wrong or if Customer needs more information about a transfer or payment covered by this Agreement which is listed on their statement. Bank must hear from Customer no later than 60 days after Bank sent the first statement on which the problem or error appeared. Information should include: Customer's name and account number; Describe the error, payment or transfer the customer is unsure about, and explain as clearly as Customer can why Customer believes it is an error and why Customer needs more information; tell the Bank the dollar amount of the suspected error. If Customer tells Bank of the suspected error orally, Bank shall require that Customer send Bank the complaints or question in writing within 10 business days. Bank will tell Customer the results of Bank's investigation within 10 business days after Bank hears from Customer and will correct any error promptly. If Bank needs more time to investigate, Bank may take up to 45 additional days to investigate Customer's complaint or question. If the transaction was not initiated in any state, territory or possession of the United States, the initial investigation period will be 20 business days instead of 10 business days, and 90 business days instead of 45 business days, for an expanded investigation. If Bank decides that there was no error, Bank will send Customer a written explanation within 3 business days after the investigation is finished. Customer may ask for copies of the documents that Bank used in its investigation.
Customer Liability: If Customer believes Customer's Internet Banking ID and/or password or other means of access have been lost or stolen, and customer notifies Bank of the South in writing, which notice is received within two business days after Customer learns of the loss or theft, Customer will not be shall be responsible for more than $50.00 if someone used them without Customer's authority after receipt of notice. If Customer does not tell Bank of the South within two business days after Customer learns of the loss or theft of Customer's User ID and/or Password or other means of access, Customer shall be responsible for the full amount of payments or transfers made by someone using them without Customer's authority until Bank of the South receives notice, as more fully described above in this paragraph. If Customer's statement shows payments or transfers covered by this Agreement that Customer did not make or authorize, Customer must notify Bank at once. If Customer does not notify the Bank of the South within 60 days after the statement was mailed to him, the Bank of the South shall have no liability to Customer for such payments or transfers.
Statements: Customer's Internet Banking transfers will be listed on the monthly statements that Bank of the South provides or makes accessible to Customer. Customer agrees to notify Bank of the South within 60 days if Customer changes address.
Canceling The Service: To cancel your Internet Service, you must contact Bank of the South in writing to notify us of your decision to cancel. Bank of the South may cancel or suspend your service at anytime without notice.
Law That Applies: Regardless of where Customer lives or works or where Customer accesses the Bank of the South Web services, this Agreement is subject to the laws of the State of Florida and the Federal Law of the United States of America with, in either event, consideration of conflicts of law principles. If any of the terms of the Agreement cannot be legally enforced, they will be considered changed to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law.
Attorney's Fees: In the event any action is filed in relation to this Agreement, the unsuccessful party in the action whall pay to the sucessful party in addition to all the sums that either party may be called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the successful party's attorney fees.
Excusable Delay: No party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other for any loss, cost or damages, arising out of, or resulting from, any failure to perform in accordance with the terms of this Agreement where such failure shall be beyond the reasonable control of such party, which, as employed here, shall be deemed to mean, but not limited to, acts of God, strikes, lockouts, or other industrial disturbances, wars, whether declared or undeclared, blockades, insurrections, or government action, explosions, fire, floods, or any other cause not within the reasonable control of either party.
Amendments: The terms and conditions governing Internet Banking including costs and fees may be amended by Bank of the South at anytime upon 30 days advance notice. Your continued use of the service is your acceptance of any Amendment(s) of the Agreement, including any instruction of the use of this service as may be amended from time to time. You agree that any notice from the Bank regarding the service will be sent to you at the Bank's choice, via either electronic mail or standard mail and will be considered delivered at the time sent by the Bank. The Bank of the South may not immediately respond to email, so you should not rely on email to communicate with Bank of the South immediately.
Using the above technologies, your Internet banking transactions are secure.
