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Consumer Protection Disclosure

News Articles

Don't Be An Identity Theft Victim This Holiday Season (From the ABA Bank Risk News)

The Identity Theft Resource Center, based in San Diego, offers these tips on how to avoid having your identity stolen:

1. Never carry your Social Security card or its number unless you really need it, such as for a job interview.

2. Watch for the timely arrival of monthly statements, bills and any other item that usually comes in the mail.

3. Mail your bills inside the post office, rather than trying to stuff them in an already full mail box out on the sidewalk.

4. While talking on your cell phone, don’t share your account numbers where other people can hear you.

5. Keep an eye on your credit card at all times -- don’t let a clerk or accomplice distract you while it could be swiped through a second scanner that secretly records your information.

6. Keep track of all credit card receipts and shred any you don’t need.

7. Shred any documents you don’t need that contain bar codes, account numbers or other sensitive data.

Consumer Protection Disclosure

First State Bank is pleased and honored that you have chosen to do business with us. Because of your choice to do business with us, we have a heightened obligation to ensure that the information you provide to us, and the business that you transact with or through us remains private and confidential. First State Bank believes that customer privacy and confidentiality can be strictly maintained even though we must necessarily contract with suppliers and vendors to provide our customers an array of financial products, which they want and need to accomplish their goals. The way we do this is described in this Privacy Statement. If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Statement, please feel free to contact an Officer of First State Bank.

Customer Information

In our normal course of business, we collect, retain, and use information about customers for specific business purposes, and to enable First State Bank to better serve the financial needs of its customers In addition to the information you provide to us, or which becomes known to us through normal financial transactions, we also retain general statistical information form other sources, such as credit reports and public records. In certain instances, we may also obtain information from financial institutions with which a new customer has done business in the past. We use all of this information to protect, maintain, and administer your accounts, records and funds; to comply with the laws and regulations which govern bank operations, and to better understand and server our customers in this community with financial services that are wanted and desired.

Employee Access to Information

As with any business, employees of First State Bank necessarily learn, and have access to information about our customers. Because we value your trust so highly, our employees' access to customer information is authorized for business purposes only, based upon that employee's duties and job description, and upon that employee's need to know such information to competently and thoroughly do their job. We educate our employees, and ask them to maintain a heightened awareness of the importance of confidentiality and privacy. If a customer's confidentiality or privacy is ever breached by an employee, you can be assured that First States Bank will take immediate and appropriate disciplinary measures.

Restriction on Disclosure of Information to Non-Affiliated Parties

We do not reveal customer information about you or your accounts, to any person or party not affiliated with First State Bank, unless:

1. You, the customer, request or authorize.
2. The information is provided to help complete a transaction initiated by our customer.
3. We are legally permitted or required to do so. It is not uncommon for banks to receive subpoenas, garnishment notices, or other judicial orders requiring banks to turn over customer information, and in some instances, funds. We also report information to reputable credit reporting agencies.
4. In the future, if we ever feel that it is necessary or beneficial to share non-public personal information with unassociated parties, in order to provide a product or service to our customers, you will be notified and given the opportunity to "opt-out". If you elect to opt-out, no information about you will be provided to unassociated third parties.

Sharing Information with Service Providers

In order for First State Bank to provide the quality of service that we strive to provide, and to fully and completely serve our customers by providing an array of financial products and services, it is necessary for First State Bank to contract with vendors or suppliers to support our products, services or process documents. We are very selective in choosing these vendors and suppliers. When we enter into contractual relationships with these parties, they are contractually bound and required to adhere to strict standards requiring security and confidentiality of customer information. They are not allowed to release such information, or use any information for their own purposes.

Disclosure of Non-Financial Information

First State Bank will not, under any circumstances, sell the names, addresses or other nonfinancial information about our customers to any third party, nor will First State Bank accept any form of benefit or gain in exchange for disclosing customer names, addresses, or other nonfinancial information to any third party or marketing organization.

Accuracy of Information

If you ever believe that any of our records contain inaccurate or incomplete information about you, we encourage you to immediately contact us at 307-322-5222, in Wheatland, or 307-532-5600, in Torrington. We will immediately investigate your concerns and correct any inaccuracies as quickly as possible.

About Children's Online Privacy

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act(COPPA) was passed to give parents increased control over what information is collected from their children online and how such information is used. The law applies to websites and services directed to, and which knowingly collect information from, children under the age of 13. Cornhusker Bank's websites and online services are not directed to children under the age of 13, nor is information knowingly collected from them. For additional information on COPPA protections, visit the Federal Trade Commission's website at www.ftc.gov/privacy/privacyinitiatives/childrens. For further information, the Federal Government has created a Web site, Kidz Privacy, aimed at educating both parents and children about the dangers of the Internet and how to browse safely.