Privacy Policy

It is the policy of Farmers & Merchants Bank that both the financial records of our customers and the relationship between Farmers & Merchants Bank and our customers are confidential. All employees are informed of their responsibility to protect confidential customer information and are bound by this privacy policy. A steadfast rule which will be strictly enforced involves the confidential nature of an employee’s position. No employee is allowed to discuss the financial or other personal affairs of a customer with anyone outside the bank or with any other employee unless his or her job responsibilities require such information. Employees shall only be granted security clearance to access customer computer records and information that are necessary to fulfill their job responsibilities. Access shall be granted by the Security Officer and monitored on a regular basis. Credit file access shall be limited to lending personnel, auditors and regulators.

Farmers & Merchants Bank will collect, retain and use information about its customers only where it reasonably believes it will be useful in administering bank business, providing superior service and offering opportunities to its customers. This means that we will use information to help identify and reduce potential risk or loss and to identify new products and services. The collection and use of information will be in compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations. Farmers & Merchants Bank does not use "cookies" to collect and track information about you.

Farmers & Merchants Bank will strive to ensure that information concerning our customers is accurate. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires us to notify consumers whenever consumer reports from third parties are used in our decision to decline any application made by them. If this occurs, we will provide the applicant with the name and address of the reporting agency. Consumers who are declined are entitled to a free copy of reports from reporting agencies and to have such reports corrected by the agency concerned if those reports contain inaccurate information. If we decline an application for other reasons, we will tell the applicant why or give the applicant an opportunity to request the reasons.

Farmers & Merchants Bank employs reasonable measures to ensure the accuracy, timeliness and completeness of our customer information. If we become aware of inaccuracies in our records, we will take corrective steps immediately.

Farmers & Merchants Bank will not share customer information with third parties for their independent use, except for the exchange of information with a reputable information reporting agency to maximize the accuracy and security of such information or in the performance of a bona fide due diligence, unless the information is provided to help complete a customer initiated transaction, the customer requests it or the disclosure is required or allowed by law. The Bank Secrecy Act, Internal Revenue Code, Right to Financial Privacy Act, the Welfare Reform Act and various other laws and regulations require us, under certain circumstances, to provide information to government agencies. We will only disclose information to the government or others when we are required to do so by such laws, regulations or by court order. State and federal laws impose certain mandatory disclosures of customer information by financial institutions. We must comply with laws that mandate production or disclosure.

Both federal and state law provide parties to litigation the right to compel the production of records and information from banks and other third party record keepers in certain situations. If a customer is involved in a legal proceeding, Farmers & Merchants Bank will only disclose customer information to third party litigants when required to do so by lawful judicial process or by court order.

Farmers & Merchants Bank may at times share customer information with companies that we may hire to provide operational support, participate in supplying products or services or promote products and services on our behalf. Unless governed by federal or state laws to the contrary, these companies are not permitted to use our customer information for purposes other that those we intended. Outside companies are required to adhere to the same privacy principles as the bank.

Questions or comments relating to this "Consumer Privacy" policy may be addressed to the Bank’s Compliance Officer at 870-673-6911.