MidSouth Bank | Privacy Policy

MIDSOUTH BANK
ON-LINE BANKING PRIVACY POLICY AND DISCLOSURE

At MidSouth Bank we understand the importance of protecting the confidentiality of your personal information. The purpose of this policy is to protect your personal information on the Internet the same way we have when you conducted business with us in a branch office, over the phone, or through an ATM.

The following section explains our "Policy Principles" regarding any personal information you might supply to us when you visit our Internet Site.

YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS SAFE WITH US

MidSouth Bank appreciates the fact that you have chosen us as your financial services provider. We realize that you have many choices when establishing your financial relationships and we pledge to continue to earn the trust you placed in us.

We welcome this opportunity to describe to you the ways in which we work to protect your consumer information and guard your privacy. In this disclosure, you will find details about how we collect and use personal information as well as instructions on how you can choose to restrict the information we share. This is called your choice to "Opt Out."

The practices and policies included in this disclosure take precedence over any other information you have received regarding our privacy practices.

OUR PROMISE TO OUR CUSTOMERS

We are committed to protecting your privacy at all times.
We are committed to bringing you the services you need to achieve your financial goals. If we do not offer a service that promotes the achievement of these goals; for instance investments or insurance, we may choose to partner with an outside company as joint providers of a financial service. Each of these joint provider agreements carries a strict confidentiality clause.
We do not share customer information with outside companies for the purpose of them offering you a product or service not related to your relationship with the Bank.
We maintain strict security standards that safeguard your information and protect your privacy. We continue to test and upgrade our technology to ensure adherence to the most rigid privacy requirements.

When we use the words "you" and "your" we mean our consumer customers. A "customer" is an individual (a person, not a corporation, partnership or trust) who has a financial product or service with us for personal, family, or household purposes.

CUSTOMER INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect what is known as "nonpublic personal information" about you from the following sources:

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

CUSTOMER INFORMATION WE DISCLOSE

We may disclose nonpublic personal information about you to the following types of third parties:

Financial service providers such as insurance agencies; And
Non-financial companies such as check printers, companies that prepare account statements, data processors and market researchers.

We may also disclose nonpublic personal information about you to nonaffiliated third parties as permitted by law.

CUSTOMER INFORMATION WE DISCLOSE TO JOINT MARKETERS

We may disclose the following information to companies that perform marketing services on our behalf or to other financial institutions with which we have joint marketing agreements:

Information we receive from you on applications and other forms, such as your name, address, social security number, assets and income;
Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others, such as your account balance, payment history, parties to transactions, and credit card usage; and
Information we receive from a consumer-reporting agency, such as your credit worthiness and credit history.

CUSTOMER INFORMATION WE DISCLOSE TO AFFILIATES

We currently do not disclose, but reserve the right to disclose the following kinds of nonpublic information about you to companies related to us by common control or ownership ("affiliates") unless you tell us not to. These companies would include financial service providers, such as investment firms, insurance agencies, brokerage companies, and non-finance companies such as retailers. The information may include, but is not limited to:

Information we obtain from your application, such as your assets, income, or marital status;
Information we obtain from a consumer report, such as your credit worthiness or credit history;
Information we obtain from a person regarding their employment, credit or other relations with you, such as your employment history.

HOW DOES MIDSOTH BANK USE INFORMATION ABOUT ME AND THE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE WITH THE BANK?

Customer information is at the heart of our ability to provide you with the products and services that enhance your lifestyle and help you achieve your personal and financial goals. For instance, if we know that you have recently had a new baby; we may send you information on Education IRA's to plan for your child's future. Or, if we know that you are an online Banking customer, we may send you information about enhancements to our Bill Payment product line. If your last purchase of an automobile was over five years ago, we may contact you to let you know when our auto loans rates are at promotional lows.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ABOUT FORMER CUSTOMERS

We do not disclose information about former customers, except as they may be permitted or required by law. Some examples of circumstances when we may share information about former customers are:

When we share information with consumer reporting agencies;
When we are required by a federal, state or local law or regulation to do so; or
When we receive a subpoena or are ordered by a court to do so.

FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT INFORMATION SHARING

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, we have a right to share information regarding our transactions or experiences with you.

NOTIFY US OF INACCURATE INFORMATION WE REPORT TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES

If we report any inaccurate information about your account(s) to a consumer reporting agency, send a written notice describing the specific inaccuracy(ies) to us at the following address: MidSouth Bank, Attn: Compliance Department, P.O. Box 3745, Lafayette, LA 70501.

SECURITY OF CUSTOMER INFORMATION

The Bank's confidentiality and business ethics policies provide, among other things, that all customer information is considered private and privileged. Employee access to customer information is limited to those individuals who have a business need to know. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard against your nonpublic personal information.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE

If you prefer that we not disclose nonpublic personal information about you to companies related to us, you may opt out of those disclosures, that is you may direct us not to share this information (other than what is permitted by law). If you wish to opt out of this type of disclosure, send us your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to: MidSouth Bank, Opt-Out - Information Sharing Options, P.O. Box 3745, Lafayette, LA 70501.

If you have a joint account, each account holder may make a separate choice, but any account holder can opt out on behalf of the other joint account holder. Please be assured that you may exercise your right to opt out at any time. This opt out is effective until revoked by the consumer in writing.

TIPS TO HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR CUSTOMER INFORMATION

Don't give out your Social Security Number or account numbers to anyone over the telephone.
Tear up receipts, old bank statement and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.
Protect you Personal Identification Number(s) and never carry this information with you.
Order copies of your credit report once a year to ensure accuracy.

ON-LINE CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

On-line customers are required to utilize specific passwords for online access to confidential and private information. It is critical that you take responsibility to safeguard login IDs and passwords very seriously. Commercial customers should carefully screen those employees to whom user IDs and passwords are granted.
Online banking customers are reminded that the bank may have links within our website to other websites that are not under our control and may not necessarily comply with MidSouth Bank's "Privacy Principles" and security standards.
If any of our customers believe that confidential and private information has been compromised, please contact us immediately so that the potential breach can be investigated.

If you suspect that someone has had unauthorized access to your account with us, or access to your personal identifying information, such as your Social Security Number or credit card information, please notify your MidSouth Bank representative immediately so we can take action to protect you.

In addition, you should also report the crime to your local law enforcement Agency and to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). To speak to an FTC telephone counselor, call toll free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). Or to enter information about your complaint into a secure FTC online database, sign onto http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft. The site also provides links to numerous consumer education materials.