1. Introduction

The Valsad District Central Co-Operative Bank Ltd. (“the Bank”) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of personal information entrusted to it by its customers, visitors, and users of its products, services, websites, and digital platforms.

This Privacy Policy explains how the Bank collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal information in the course of its banking and related activities. The Bank follows applicable laws, regulations, regulatory guidelines, and established banking practices in India while handling personal information.

2. Applicability

This Privacy Policy applies to:

• Customers and prospective customers of the Bank
• Users of the Bank’s websites and other digital channels

This Policy applies to information collected through physical, electronic, or digital means, whether directly from customers or through lawful third‑party sources.

3. Information Collected

The Bank may collect and process the following categories of information, as required for lawful banking purposes:

Personal Information: Name, address, contact details, date of birth, identification and KYC documents, customer identification numbers.

Financial Information: Bank account details, transaction data, card details, loan and deposit information, payment instructions.

Technical and Usage Information: Device details, IP address, browser type, access logs, and information required for secure operation of digital channels.

The Bank collects only such information as is necessary for providing banking services and complying with legal and regulatory requirements.

4. Purpose of Use

The information collected by the Bank may be used for the following purposes:

• Opening, maintaining, and operating customer accounts
• Providing banking products and services
• Processing transactions and instructions
• Ensuring security, fraud prevention, and risk management
• Complying with laws, regulations, and regulatory directions
• Customer communication, grievance redressal, and service improvement

The Bank does not use customer information for any purpose that is unlawful or inconsistent with banking regulations.

5. Information Security

The Bank implements reasonable and appropriate security measures—administrative, technical, and physical—to protect personal information against unauthorised access, misuse, loss, alteration, or destruction.

Customers are advised to safeguard their credentials (such as passwords, PINs, and OTPs) and to exercise caution against phishing, social‑engineering, and other fraudulent activities. The Bank shall not be responsible for losses arising from customer negligence in safeguarding such credentials.

6. Disclosure of Information

The Bank does not disclose customer information to third parties except in the following circumstances:

• Where disclosure is required by law, regulation, court order, or regulatory authority
• Where disclosure is necessary to protect the Bank’s legal rights and interests
• Where disclosure is required to enforce contractual obligations
• Where disclosure is made to banks, financial institutions, credit bureaus, clearing networks, or service providers for lawful purposes such as credit reporting, payment processing, fraud prevention, or regulatory compliance
• Where disclosure is made with customer authorisation, wherever applicable

Such disclosures are made strictly in accordance with applicable laws and established banking norms.

7. Cookies and Website Usage

The Bank’s website may use cookies or similar technologies to enhance user experience, ensure secure sessions, and analyse website performance. Cookies do not collect personal information unless voluntarily provided by the user.

Users may disable cookies through browser settings; however, certain website features may not function optimally as a result. A separate Cookie Guidance is given for further information on the subject.

8. External Links

The Bank’s website may contain links to third‑party websites. The Bank is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of such external websites. Users are encouraged to review the privacy policies of those websites independently.

9. Customer Responsibilities

Customers are responsible for ensuring that information provided to the Bank is accurate and up to date. Customers should promptly inform the Bank of any changes to their personal or contact information.

10. Limitation of Liability

The Bank shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from:

• Unauthorised disclosures resulting from customer negligence
• Access to unauthorised or fraudulent websites falsely claiming association with the Bank
• Preventive restrictions or transaction declines undertaken by the Bank to mitigate suspected fraud or security risks

11. Policy Updates

The Bank reserves the right to amend or update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes shall become effective upon publication on the Bank’s official website.

12. Effective Date

This Privacy Policy shall be effective from the date of its publication on the Bank’s corporate website.