Privacy

Protecting your privacy

We take seriously our responsibility for protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information.

As part of our business we are committed to providing a number of services to our members, which include financial services. To provide these services it is necessary for us to collect, store and use your personal information.

We have been recording such information for over 50 years of operation and we believe we have earned our members trust in doing so. We are continuing to improve and revise the security and accessibility of this information in line with new technology and will continue to do so.

We will only deal with your personal information in the ways we describe to you in this policy.

Personal information collected

We collect most personal information from you directly. For example, we may collect personal information when you apply for membership, open an account, deal with us over the telephone, send us a letter, visit our web site, or when you contact us in person.

The type of information we collect will include your name and may include: contact details; tax file number; date of birth; income and financial details; employment details; credit record and transaction history.

Where you provide information in an application for membership, we will use this information:
• For our register of members and shareholders; and
• For the provision and offer of membership services.

Where you provide information in an application for a financial product or service, we will use this information:
• To create and maintain a financial service relationship.

If you cannot provide us with the information we require to provide and maintain these services we may be unable to accept or continue your membership or to provide you with financial services.

We may need to source information about you from a third party; for example, a credit reporting agency or an insurer. Wherever possible this will be done with your authorisation or where this is not possible we will inform you when such information is collected.

We do not generally collect information that is ‘sensitive personal information’ as defined by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), unless such information is required by law. Where such information is collected it will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected, unless otherwise required by law.

We do not disclose your sensitive personal information to third parties without your permission, unless such Disclosure is required by law.  

Use and disclosure

Where we collect personal information, we will only use it for the purpose that you provided it, unless otherwise required by law.

Personal information is treated as confidential within the credit union and is used by us for the purpose for which it was collected or for a related purpose. Related purposes may include:
• Our own market analysis and product development;
• Informing you about new or changes to products or services; and
• Detecting and preventing fraud and other criminal activity.

Wherever our business is outsourced to third party contractors, such as mailing houses and Information Technology professionals, we undertake to ensure that these parties are bound by confidentiality and non disclosure agreements. Information provided to these parties remains the property of the credit union and is only used for the specific purpose for which it is supplied, and on completion it is returned to us.

Wherever possible, the credit union will elect to deal with agents who are bound by the provisions of the Privacy Act.

Confidentiality

We have a duty to keep confidential all personal information we hold about you.

We will not disclose your personal information unless the disclosure is:
• Required by law (e.g. The Australian Taxation Office has the power to order us to disclose information on your account/s);
• Authorised by law (e.g. to protect our interests or where we have a duty to the public to disclose or where it is necessary in proceedings before a court or tribunal); or
• Made with your consent.

Disclosure to third parties

We do not disclose names and addresses to third parties for their own use and in particular we do not disclose names and addresses to third parties for their direct marketing.

Your consent

Your consent to us may be express or implied.

We obtain your express consent by you writing to notify us of your consent or by signing to acknowledge a statement of consent. Your implied consent includes your consent, by taking up membership, to allow us to disclose your identifying information to our service providers to enable us to operate and provide services and products to you.

Without such consent we may not be able to maintain your membership and accounts with the credit union.

Direct marketing and your privacy

From time to time we will use the personal information we collect from you to inform you of products and services that we consider may be of interest to you.

If you do not wish to receive direct marketing information, you can tell us at any time by contacting 13 13 61 and asking to speak to our Privacy Officer.

Tax file number, Medicare numbers and pension numbers

We use and disclose these numbers only for the purposes required by law.

If you think the information we hold about you is incorrect or you want to update it

We rely on the accuracy of the information you provide to us. If you believe or know that information we hold about you is incorrect, out of date or incomplete, please contact us on 13 13 61 and we will make all reasonable efforts to correct the information.

Security of your personal information

We will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify any personal information which is no longer needed for the purposes outlined above, unless otherwise required by law.

We take all reasonable precautions to protect your personal information from loss, unauthorised access, modification and unauthorised disclosure. Personal information about your accounts and membership is only accessible by you and by those who are authorised to access it.

Records that we hold, containing your personal information may be in hardcopy documents or as electronic data.
Hardcopy documents are secured on our premises and at archive sites by locks and security systems. Wherever practicable, hardcopy documents are returned to you and not kept on our premises. Electronic data stored on our computers is protected by computer and network security products, including firewalls, encryption, virus software, as well as user identities and passwords.

Our website uses the highest level of technology to ensure maximum security, including 128-bit encryption technology and Verisign security. However, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be totally secure. You should assess these potential risks when deciding whether to use our online banking services. You can contact the credit union on 13 13 61 for alternative banking access. Whenever you bank on our website, you should ensure that you log out when you leave the computer to prevent unauthorised activity on your account and access to your information.

Access to your personal information

You may request access to the personal information we hold about you. We will provide you with such access wherever possible and within reasonable time. We may apply a fee for such access, to cover our costs. If we deny your request for access, we will provide you with reasons for that denial.

We would ask that any such request is stated as clearly as possible and adequately identifies the information you are seeking and where it is located.

Changes to our privacy policy

This information relates to our current privacy policy.

We may vary this policy from time to time. You will be advised of any changes to this policy.

Resolving privacy issues

If you believe that the credit union has failed to observe the privacy of your personal information, you can register your concern or complaint with our Privacy Officer on 13 13 61. We will respond as soon as possible and usually within 3 working days, to let you know the person in our organisation who will be responsible for investigating the matter. If we are unable to resolve the matter within 21 working days we will contact you to let you know its progress and status and when we expect the matter to be resolved.

How to make a complaint or enquiry

To register a complaint or concern or to answer your questions relating to this Privacy Policy you can contact us via the following methods:

By telephone on 13 13 61

By mail to:

The Privacy Officer
PO Box 881
Haymarket NSW 1240
or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it