Thank you for visiting the Department of Banking Web site, a part of www.ct.gov - the official Web site of the State of Connecticut. Our goal is to make your online experience with us enjoyable, valuable and secure.

The Department of Banking is strongly committed to protecting your privacy when you visit our Web site, consistent with applicable laws of the United States and the State of Connecticut, including the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act and the Connecticut Personal Data Act.

What Information Does the Department of Banking Collect About Users?

A. Automatic Information

The following information is automatically collected from every user who browses or downloads pages from the Department of Banking Web site:

• The Internet domain (such as .com or .org) and Internet Protocol address (a series of numbers assigned to your computer which allow other computers to identify you online) from which you access our site;
• The type of browser and operating system used to access our site;
• The date and time you access our site;
• The pages you visit or the files you download; and
• If you followed a link to the Department of Banking from another Web site, the address of that Web site.

This information is only used to create summary statistics, which are used to determine the types of information visitors find most interesting, to analyze technical design specifications, and to identify system performance or problem areas.

This information is not reported or used in any manner that would reveal personally identifiable information, and will not be released to any outside (third) parties unless legally required.

B. E-Mail Communication

All e-mail messages sent to the Department of Banking automatically contain the e-mail addresses of their senders. If you send us an e-mail inquiry or complaint, we will only use your e-mail address to respond to your request. E-mail addresses are not sold under any circumstances. E-mail inquiries to the department, and department e-mail responses to those inquiries, however, may be subject to public disclosure under applicable state and federal law.

Although e-mail is widely used today, it may not be secure or private in its transmission from your computer to the Department of Banking. You may wish to consider providing us with confidential or sensitive personal information by alternative means. Such information may be physically mailed, faxed or delivered in person to the Department of Banking.

The Department of Banking distributes its News and Securities Bulletins via e-mail listservs to voluntary subscribers, who can register for the service via our Web site. The listservs, or distribution lists, are moderated; only the Department of Banking may post messages. Neither subscribers nor outside parties can communicate with listserv recipients. The distribution lists will not be released to any outside (third) parties unless legally required.

C. Personal Information You Provide to Us

The Department of Banking does not collect or retain any personally identifiable information about you when you visit our Web site unless you choose to voluntarily provide such information to us (for example, by sending us an e-mail or by completing an on-line form).

We consider any information that could reasonably be used to identify you as "personally identifiable information." This includes, but is not limited to:

• Your name
• Your physical address
• Your Social Security number
• Bank account information
• Credit card information
• Information regarding securities or any other investments
• Any combination of data that could be used to identify you, such as your birth date, zip code and gender.

Does the Department of Banking
Share the Information It Receives with Anyone?

The Department of Banking may request personally identifiable information from you in order to provide a requested service, such as to respond to your complaint. Any personally identifiable information you provide to us electronically is handled exactly as it would be if you provided the information to us during an in-person visit to the Department's offices.

It bears repeating that the Department of Banking is strongly committed to protecting the confidentiality of every complaint it receives from the public. State law (Section 36a-21) protects complaints received by the Department of Banking from disclosure or public inspection, notwithstanding any provision of state or federal law.

Nevertheless, you should be aware that the Department of Banking, under limited circumstances, could be required to disclose personally identifiable information in response to valid legal process, such as a search warrant, subpoena, court order, or request pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act.

If you submit an inquiry or a complaint to the Department of Banking, we may ask an institution that is the subject of your correspondence to respond to your inquiry or complaint and we may share your personally identifiable information with that institution. We may also redirect your correspondence (and personally identifiable information contained therein) to another governmental agency that is in a better position to respond to your issue, such as when we lack regulatory authority or when a criminal law enforcement matter is involved.

Do I Have a Choice About Whether or Not
My Personal Information is Provided to Others?

No. Any personally identifiable information you choose to provide to us when you visit our Web site may be subject to public disclosure under applicable state and federal law, and otherwise as described above.

Can I Access and Correct My Personal Information?

If you are concerned about information contained in our records, you should contact the division of the Department of Banking that received the information. If, for example, you completed an Internet complaint form, you should contact the Government Relations and Consumer Affairs Division to inquire about any personally identifiable information it may retain.

Commitment to Security

The State of Connecticut, Department of Information Technology, which manages the computers that support the Department of Banking Web site, has established appropriate safeguards to ensure that any on-line information is secure from destruction, corruption or unauthorized access. This commitment to security includes a continuing review of safety measures, implementation of changes as needed and regular staff training.

Disclaimers to Other Sites

The Department of Banking maintains links to other Web sites for your convenience and general information. Examples include links to Web sites operated by other governmental agencies, non-profit organizations and private businesses. When you follow a link to another site, you leave the Department of Banking Web site and this privacy policy no longer applies. When you visit another Web site, you will be subject to the privacy policy of that Web site.

The inclusion of an external link on the Department of Banking Web site does not constitute an endorsement of the Web site's organization or of the information provided on the external Web site.

More Information

For questions or comments about this Web site privacy policy, please contact:

Policy Revised: June 23, 2005