Privacy Disclosure/Security Statements
U. S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union Privacy Policy
U. S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union (USPS FCU) recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy of our members, including those who visit our Web Site. We want to protect the personal and financial information that you have entrusted to us. Therefore, we have developed the following privacy policy in accordance Federal law that respects and addresses your needs. We believe that all personal and financial information specific to you provided to us through any channel constitutes personal information.
Accuracy of Information
Every effort is made to ensure that our records of your information are complete and correct. If an error is noted on your USPS FCU statement or any other communication, you must notify us in writing. We will investigate your issues and update your records as needed.
We request that you keep your personal information as current as possible so that you may get the maximum benefit from USPS FCU. In particular, please make sure you inform us of any phone number, address or e-mail address change, in writing, as soon as possible so that we may communicate with and better serve you.
The Collection and Use of Information
When you apply for a Credit Union account or service, we collect personal information in order to process your application. This information may be retained by us so that we can provide the products and services you request. Some of this information is also handled by our business partners who have agreed to abide by our policy.
When you open or use an account or service from USPS FCU, we retain personal information you provide in context of using that product or service, including transaction information.
After you initially sign up for our online services (CU E-Link), our data system records certain online information, including transactions you conduct online. This data enables us to process and confirm your transactions in an accurate manner.
When you send the Credit Union e-mail, we retain content of the e-mail, your e-mail address, and our response in order to assure we have adequately addressed your inquiry and to handle necessary follow-up questions you may have. We may also use the saved e-mail for quality assessment purposes.
Only authorized and trained employees have access to member information. Employees of USPS FCU are authorized by the Credit Union to use certain member data for authorized business purposes only. The Credit Union maintains security measures that guard against the dissemination of information about our members to unauthorized entities and/or individuals.
Use and Sharing of Personal Information
The Credit Union will use personal information as deemed appropriate, i.e., in the normal course of business to provide products and services you requested. We will use this personal information to keep a record of when you have contacted us.
The Credit Union does not share any nonpublic information with companies other than those we have specifically contracted or allied with to perform a specific service that we feel may be of interest to our members. The USPS FCU partners only with other service providers who share the same commitment we have in protecting your privacy. Under no circumstances will we authorize these firms to charge your account without express consent.
We will not disclose to third parties (except our business partners) information concerning your account except:
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When said disclosure is necessary to complete transactions.
- When a third party is verifying the existence or condition of your account in accordance with applicable laws such as credit bureaus.
- When such disclosure is in compliance with the law, government agencies or court orders
- When you give us written permission.
- To protect secured assets or the assets of the Credit Union. Disclosing member information to any other entity is strictly prohibited by USPS FCU.
The Credit Union does not sell or provide personal information to any list service or any third party organizations for their specific independent use.
Protection of Personal Information
U. S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union uses multiple levels of security, beginning with your browser and ending with the Credit Union's operating system that acts as a virtual vault inside the Credit Union. Information we receive via online applications is secure and requires industry standard Secured Socket Layer encrypted browsers.
Protecting your information is an ongoing process. We will continue to review the measures we take to safeguard your personal information. These reviews will result in new measures to protect member records, as the Credit Union makes changes to its information security practices and other internal control systems to take advantage of new technology.
How to Contact Us
If you would like any additional information, or have questions regarding USPS FCU's Privacy Policy, please telephone us at 1-800-USPS-FCU or send us an e-mail at uspsfcu@uspsfcu.org. You may also write us at U. S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union, 7905 Malcolm Rd, Suite 311, Clinton, MD 20735 or visit one of our offices.
USPS FCU "CU E-LINK" Home Banking Security
Network Security
With the Internet as the fastest growing form of commercial exchange in the world, the need for tighter security is paramount. Therefore, U. S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union (USPS FCU) has taken a serious approach to security. From the ground up, we have implemented a security system that safeguards your money and keeps your account information private. USPS FCU has been equipped with a protected environment using a nationally recognized networking architecture consisting of data encryption throughout the transmission to prevent unauthorized access. Layers of security include automatic sign-off, encryption, firewalls, and password lockout.
Automatic Sign Off
Sometimes you may be using a remote computer when you're banking online, thus remembering to sign off is very important. However, if you do forget to sign off, USPS FCU will automatically sign off for you after a predetermined time period of inactivity. This prevents curious persons from continuing your home banking session in case you have left your PC unattended without logging out. However, we recommend that you always sign-off (log out) when you are done with your online banking.
Encryption
USPS FCU utilizes different types of technology to ensure the confidentiality of its transactions through the Internet, such as Netscape's Secured Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. SSL is an open protocol for securing data communications across computer networks which provides secure channels for data transmission through encryption. SSL also provides transfer capabilities of digitally signed certificates for authentication procedures. Certificates of authentication offers message integrity, thus ensuring that data can not be modified after it's sent.
Firewalls
The Credit Union is protected by a firewall, which is a barrier between the outside Internet and the internal Credit Union network. The firewall verifies each network packet and determines whether to permit access. All incoming IP traffic is actually addressed to the firewall, which only allows pertinent information to flow into the Credit Union.
Password Lockout
In order to bank online, you need to know a unique password. When you enter your password, it is compared with the password we have stored in our secure data cent. If someone else is trying to enter a password to view your banking information, he/she won't get very far. USPS FCU allows only 3 chances to enter a password. After 3 failed attempts, it is determined to be fraudulent activity and the account is "locked out." No further login attempts will be allowed until you call us to reinitialize the account. We will monitor and record "bad-login" attempts to detect any suspicious activity (i.e., someone trying to guess your password). You play a crucial role in preventing others from logging on to your account. Never use passwords that are easy to guess. Examples of bad passwords are: Birth dates, first names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, etc. Never reveal your password to another person. You should periodically change your password in the User Option screen of online banking.
USPS FCU is dedicated to providing alternative banking options with stringent security measures for our members. We have your privacy, protection, and peace of mind at the forefront of our online banking solution, CU E-LINK
BillPayer Guildelines
By enrolling in BillPayer, you the Credit Union member hereby authorize the U. S. Postal Service FCU to make payments on your behalf by debiting the member's designated account and transferring the funds to the designated merchant accounts as indicated by the member via Internet BillPayer. The agreements, rules, and regulations applicable to your checking accounts, savings accounts and other accounts, serviced by your Credit
Union, remain in effect and continue to be applicable, except as specifically stated in
this agreement.
When scheduling payments, please allow 2 business days for electronic payment and 5 business days if paying by check. (Choose a payment date at least 2 days prior to the due date on your bill when paying electronically.)
Scheduled payments that fall on a Saturday or Sunday will be paid on Monday. Scheduled payments that fall on a holiday will be paid the following day.
Open payee enrollment gives members unlimited capacity to add payees. In order to establish a level of quality control, your payees will be notified. Successful notification can take up to 14 days. Therefore, when setting up a payment for a new payee, please wait until the Payee Status reads "available".
The following merchants may not be used for making payments:
- Tax entities (IRS, state and local tax authorities)
- Collection agencies
· Court ordered payments (child support, etc.)
- Payees outside the U.S.
The following merchants may be used but the payment guarantee will not apply:
- Payees with Armed Forces postal codes (AP, AE)
- Payments to settle securities transactions
- Payoffs on "special financing" transactions
- Unprocessed payments due to debit failures
Additional fees may be incurred for late payments or insufficient funds on your account. There is no limit to the number of payees and payments that you can set up using this service.
The maximum single payment to any designated payee is $25,000.
Linked Sites
Our site includes links to external sites that U. S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union is not necessarily affiliated with and these sites are not under our control. U. S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union is not resposible for the content or availability of linked sites. The privacy and security policies of linked sites may differ from those practiced by the Credit Union.
USA Patriot Act Effective October 1, 2003
Important Information About Procedures For Opening A New Account
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.
What This Means For You
When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver's license or other identifying documents.
We ask for your support as we are working to support efforts to maintain the security of the Credit Union and the country.
Courtesy Pay Information
Courtesy Pay is a service that allows us to pay a check written on our member's checking account even if it causes the account to become overdrawn.
Courtesy Pay may provide certain accountholders in "good standing" with the ability to overdraw their personal checking account up to $500.
If the account has been open at least 90 days and maintained in good standing, defined as A) Making regular deposits sufficient to cover transactions; B) Bringing the account to a positive balance at least once every thirty days or less, and; C) There are no legal orders outstanding on your account, we may, at our sole discretion, pay overdrafts up to the limits mentioned above, including our normal Non-Sufficient Funds and/or Courtesy Pay charge(s). Whether we pay or return an item, your account will be assessed a fee, either as a Courtesy Pay charge or a Non-Sufficient Funds charge but you will not be charged both fees.
Courtesy Pay offers additional flexibility and convenience in managing accountholder funds, and provides peace of mind knowing that checks may be paid up to the authorized overdraft limit.
This non-contractual courtesy of paying overdrafts requires no accountholder action. It is not a loan. No additional agreements need to be signed, and it costs nothing unless the privilege is used - by initiating checks, electronic funds transfers, or other payment or withdrawal requests for more than is on deposit in the account. If you maintain the account in good standing and have need for this "courtesy", we may, at our sole discretion, pay the item(s) up to the authorized limit, and we will charge the account our normal Non Sufficient Funds and/or Courtesy Pay charge for each item that overdraws the account. We will send you a notice each time an overdraft occurs.
If you receive a direct deposit of your monthly Social Security payment into your checking account and do not want Courtesy Pay eligibility, you must advise us to stop us from paying your overdrafts with these funds.
Courtesy Pay allows U. S. Postal Service FCU to provide a higher level of service to our members by helping to protect your account and reputation when an inadvertent overdraft occurs.
If you have questions, do not hesitate to call our Member Service Department at (301) 856-5000 or (800) 877-7328.
Effective April 19, 2004
How to Contact Us
If you would like any additional information, or have questions regarding USPS FCU's Privacy Policy or Security Statement, please telephone us at 1-800-USPS-FCU or send us an e-mail at uspsfcu@uspsfcu.org. You may also write us at U. S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union, 7905 Malcolm Rd, Suite 311, Clinton, MD 20735 or visit one of our offices to speak with a Credit Union representative. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.