CUSTOMER PRIVACY POLICY

Safeguarding customer information is a priority at Independence Bank. We do not sell or share any personal information about you to any marketers. We do not use "cookies" on our web site to monitor or collect information about your preferences of service or products. We do not monitor children's access to our web site. Also, we do not intentionally market our products or services to children.

We continually strive to keep customer information accurate, secure and confidential. If you believe that our records contain inaccurate or incomplete information about you, please notify us. We will investigate and make every effort to make any corrections.

At Independence Bank, the basis of each customer relationship is trust. You have chosen to do business with Independence Bank, and we are obligated to honor that relationship with great care, beginning with the information you have chosen to share with us. We believe that your privacy should not be compromised. At the same time, we want to offer you the array of financial products and services you need to accomplish your financial goals. We believe we can do both through the privacy policy outlined below.

1. Recognition of a Customer's Expectations of Privacy

We recognize your right to privacy at Independence Bank. We recognize that you have a right to expect your personal financial information to remain private and secure. We will maintain standards to ensure that your information is private and secure at all times.

2. Customer Benefits of Institution's Information Management Practices

Information about consumers is accumulated from a variety of sources. Some information is provided to Independence Bank directly by customers themselves. Other data is developed by Independence Bank as a function of providing a product or service to a customer. Still other information is obtained from outside sources. We will limit the use and collection of information about our customers to that which is necessary to administer our business, provide superior service, and offer opportunities that we think will be of interest to our customers. This means that we will use information to help us identify and mitigate potential risks or loss to Independence Bank. We will use information to help identify additional products or services which we believe customers might want to know about. We will use this information only in accordance with the principles set out in this Policy.

3. Maintenance of Accurate Information

We continually strive to maintain complete and accurate information about you and your accounts. Should you ever believe that our records contain inaccurate or incomplete information about you, please notify us. We will investigate your concerns and correct any inaccuracies.

4. Limitations on Employee Access to Information

At Independence Bank, employee access to personally identifiable customer information is limited to those with a business reason to know such information. Employees are educated on the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of customer information and on these Privacy Principles. Because of the importance of these issues, all Independence Bank employees are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of customer information and employees who violate these Privacy Principles will be subject to disciplinary measures.

5. Protection of Information via Established Security Procedures

We safeguard information according to established security standards and procedures, and we continually assess new technology for protecting information. Our employees are trained to understand and comply with these information principles.

6. Restrictions on the Disclosure of Account Information

We do not reveal specific information about your accounts or other personally identifiable data to parties outside our affiliated banks and companies for their independent use unless: 1) you request or authorize it; 2) the information is provided to help complete a transaction initiated by you; 3) the information is provided to a reputable credit bureau or similar information reporting agency; or 4) the disclosure otherwise is lawfully permitted or required. We do not provide account or personal information to non-Independence Bank companies for the purpose of independent telemarketing or direct mail marketing of any non-financial products or services of those companies.

7. Maintaining Customer Privacy in Business Relationships with Third Parties

When the Bank conducts business with third parties, it requires its vendors and suppliers to maintain similar standards of conduct regarding the privacy of personally identifiable customer information provided to them.

8. Providing Privacy Information to Customers and Responding to Inquiries

At Independence Bank, we value our customer relationships. We want you to understand how we use the information you provide and our commitment to ensuring your personal privacy. If you have any questions about how Independence Bank protects your confidential information, please call your local branch.

9. Medical Information Will Not Be Shared

If a customer provides personal medical information to Independence Bank, we will not disclose that information unless authorized by the customer.

For information concerning the Bank's Privacy Policy, please contact:

 Vice President, Compliance
at (401) 886-4600

Identity theft prevention resources:
Federal Trade Commission
Identity Theft
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation