Pacific Northwest Credit Union
Privacy Policy/Member Awareness

The protection of our members’ privacy and the safekeeping of confidential information are of utmost concern to the credit union. As such, you can rely on our commitment to protect confidential information relating to your account.

Accuracy of Information

The credit union will take reasonable precautions to protect the accuracy and reliability of your member information; however, you are responsible for updating your member record from time to time in order to assure its accuracy. The credit union will respond to your requests to update information on your account as quickly as possible.

Internal Procedures

As part of our commitment to protect the confidentiality of your account information, the credit union has established procedures for periodically training staff on the importance of member privacy, and the credit union’s privacy policy. The credit union also distributes a copy of the policy to new staff members as part of their orientation.

Staff may access your account information only when necessary for business reasons.

The credit union has also established appropriate security standards to protect against unauthorized access to member information.

When Information May Be Shared

The credit union only shares information for legitimate business reasons, with the ultimate goal of bringing you greater convenience and more choices. Information will be shared only if the credit union determines that your interests would be served.

Personal financial information such as your account balance or loan information will never be shared except: (1) when necessary to complete a transaction, (2) when a third party is verifying the existence or condition of your account in accordance with applicable law, (3) when such disclosure is in compliance with the law, government agencies or court orders, (4) when you give us your written permission, or (5) to protect secured assets or the assets of the credit union.

Information shared with affiliates will be limited to contact information such as your name and address. Information obtained from outside sources (such as a credit bureau) will never be released by the credit union.

The credit union strives to assure that all affiliates maintain privacy standards comparable to our own; therefore, before sharing any information with an affiliate, the credit union will first obtain a written confidentiality statement from the affiliate.

The credit union will not intentionally release any account information on accounts owned by minor members.

The credit union will not release confidential member information to agents of the state or federal government, except as required by law or under an appropriate legal writ.

Non-Disclosure of Information

As a member of the credit union, you can be confident that the confidentiality of account information is the rule, not the exception. Although information collected in conjunction with a member’s account remains the property of the credit union, members may choose to "opt out" of all information sharing by the credit union.

If you wish to opt out of information sharing by the credit union (including information which could be in your best interest, and bring you greater convenience), please put your request in writing and send it to: Pacific Northwest Credit Union, 3250 Northwest Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225. Your request must include your account numbers, and must be signed and dated. Due to data processing restraints, credit union members wishing to opt out will be excluded from all outside services. One account owner’s request will be considered binding for the purposes of opting out, or opting back into the credit union’s affiliated programs.

Opting out of the credit union’s affiliate program will not eliminate information or solicitations from outside sources. If you would like to reduce the amount of advertising you receive from other companies, contact the Direct Marketing Association and have your name added to the Association’s Mail Preference Service list of consumers who do not wish to be contacted by mail or via telephone for marketing purposes. Remember to include your name, address and telephone number in your written request. Also provide all spellings and possible variations of your name, as well as the names of other persons living at your address. Be sure to sign and date your letter and mail to:

The Direct Mail Marketing Association will retain your information for five years. At the end of that time, you will again have to submit your request to have your name added to the no-contact list.

Member Account Protection

As a member of Pacific Northwest Credit Union you can help protect your account information by following these suggestions:

Never give out your account number, credit/debit card information, or PIN numbers to anyone who contacts you requesting it. As well, be wary of emails claiming to be from the credit union. Embedded within the e-mail can be a link that appears to be exactly like the credit unions legitimate website. This is called "Phishing". Once you are redirected to the spoof web-site, the scam e-mail will probably ask you to fill in required information such as your name, account number, card numbers, and other sensitive account information. Delete the email permanently -- do not even click on the link or the scammer will know that they have a live email address! Pacific Northwest Credit Union and other legitimate companies will never solicit your personal information.

Limit the amount of paper that has your personal information printed on it. Pacific Northwest Credit Union offers free E-Statements to help you avoid being the victim of identity theft or mail fraud. As well, the credit union offers direct deposit for most paychecks and retirement checks. In addition, the credit union strongly recommends that your opt out of receiving pre-approved credit cards offers in the mail by calling toll free 1.888.567.8688.

If you are concerned that you may have revealed any information, had an attempt made to obtain information, or have any questions regarding the security of your account information at the credit union, please contact us immediately at 360.647.0560 or 1.800.737.4945.

Availability of Policy

The credit union is proud of its commitment to member confidentiality, and will make this policy available to any consumer requesting it. The credit union will also post the policy on its Internet Home Page: www.pacificnwcu.com.

Complaints

Because of the credit union’s high commitment to confidentiality of member information, complaints relating to this policy or the credit union’s perceived non-compliance with the policy, should be forwarded directly to the credit union’s Chief Executive Officer or to a member of the credit union’s Supervisory Committee for prompt consideration.

The credit union’s President/C.E.O. can be reached by calling the credit union at: 360.647.0560. Correspondence directed to the credit union’s Supervisory Committee should be addressed to them at their P.O. Box: