VT Insurance Bulletin #188
Privacy Notices - Regulation IH-2001-01 - Use of Federal Model Privacy Form
Vermont Department of Financial Regulation
Insurance Division
INSURANCE BULLETIN #188
Privacy Notices – Regulation IH-2001-01
Use of Federal Model Privacy Form
The purpose of this bulletin is to set forth the views of the Vermont Department of Financial
Regulation regarding use of the Federal Model Privacy Form for compliance with the
privacy notice requirements in Department Regulation IH-2001-01, Privacy of Consumer
Financial and Health Information Regulation (“Vermont Privacy Regulation”).
The Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2006 directed eight federal agencies1 to
adopt a simplified Federal Model Privacy Form. The new Federal Model Privacy Form was
developed to increase consumers’ understanding and ability to make informed decisions
regarding the sharing of personal information, as required by the Gramm Leach Bliley Act
(“GLBA”). Federally regulated financial institutions that use the new Federal Model
Privacy Form may rely on it as a safe harbor to provide the notices required under the
GLBA privacy rules.
This Bulletin describes how Licensees, as defined in the Vermont Privacy Regulation, may
use the new Federal Model Privacy Form to meet the notice and content requirements of the
Vermont Privacy Regulation.
Use of the Federal Model Privacy Form
A Licensee’s use of the Federal Model Privacy Form set forth in Attachment A, consistent
with the Instructions set forth in Attachments B and C as modified by this Bulletin,
constitutes compliance with the notice content requirements of Sections 7 and 8 of the
Vermont Privacy Regulation
Licensees may rely on the Federal Model Privacy Form, consistent with this Bulletin and
the attached Instructions, as a safe harbor for compliance with the privacy notice content
requirements of the Vermont Privacy Regulation.
Licensees are reminded that Vermont statutes and regulations relating to consumer privacy
contain content requirements with significant differences from many other states.
Significantly, Vermont is an “opt-in” state rather than an “opt-out” state. As more
specifically set forth in the Vermont Privacy Regulation, a Licensee may not share
nonpublic personal information without the consumer’s consent, other than as permitted by
Vermont law.
1 Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; Treasury (OCC); Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board); Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Office of Thrift Supervision, Treasury (OTS); National Credit Union Administration (NCUA);
Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); and Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC).
Both the Federal Model Privacy Form and the Instructions were designed for use by “optout” states. To maintain consistency with other states, the Instructions set forth in
Attachments B and C include the Instructions for “opt-out” states. This Bulletin and the
notes in Attachments B and C describe how to use the Federal Model Privacy Forms and
Instructions, otherwise designed for “opt-out” states, in a manner consistent with Vermont’s
“opt-in” requirements.
Vermont laws and the Vermont Privacy Regulation require that Licensees obtain “opt-in”
consent from a consumer prior to sharing nonpublic personal information with an affiliate
or with a nonaffiliated third party, except as otherwise specifically permitted by Vermont
laws and regulations. A Licensee may use the Federal Model Privacy Form to comply with
the Vermont Privacy Regulation in either of the following ways:
Option 1. A Licensee may provide a generalized notice to its Vermont consumers
that answers “no” to each of the questions about whether it shares information: (i)
“For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your
creditworthiness;” and (ii) “for nonaffiliates to market to you;” OR
Option 2. A Licensee can provide a generalized notice to consumers across a
number of states, including Vermont, and answer “yes” to the questions in Option 1
above, provided it includes a discussion on the application of Vermont law in the
“Other Important Information” box on page 2 of the Federal Model Privacy Form
and complies with the requirements below.
A Licensee that chooses to use the Federal Model Privacy Form as provided in Option 2
above shall provide the following information:
(a) The “Other Important Information” box on the Federal Model Privacy Form
contains statements that convey the following information:
Other Important Information
For Vermont Members/Customers.
We will not disclose information about your creditworthiness to our affiliates
and will not disclose your personal information, financial information, credit
report, or health information to nonaffiliated third parties to market to you, other
than as permitted by Vermont law, unless you authorize us to make those
disclosures.
Additional information concerning our privacy policies can be found at [website
link] or call [telephone number].
AND
(b) The additional information provided on the Licensee’s website contains the
information required by the Vermont Privacy Regulation; to the extent such
information is not already included in the Licensee’s privacy notice.
Use of Other Types of Privacy Notices
Use of the attached Federal Model Privacy Form is not required. Licensees may continue to
use other types of privacy notices to meet the requirements of Sections 7 and 8 of the
Vermont Privacy Regulation so long as the notices accurately describe the Licensee’s
privacy practices and otherwise meet the requirements of Sections 7 and 8 of the Vermont
Privacy Regulation.
Dated this __19th___ day of January 2016
___________________________________
Susan L. Donegan, Commissioner
Vermont Department of Financial Regulation
Attachment A - Model Privacy Form
There are four versions of the Model Privacy Form.
•
Version 1: Model Form with No Opt-Out.
•
Version 2: Model Form with Opt-out by Telephone and/or Online.
•
Version 3: Model with Mail In Opt-Out Form.
•
Version 4: Optional Mail-in Form.
Version 1: Model Form with No Opt-Out
FACTS
WHAT DOES [Name of Licensee]
DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Rev. [insert date]
Why?
Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives
consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how
we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to
understand what we do.
What?
The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you
have with us. This information can include:
■ Social Security number and
■
and
■
and
When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this
notice.
How?
All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday
business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their
customers’ personal information; the reasons [name of Licensee] chooses to share; and
whether you can limit this sharing.
Reasons we can share your personal information
Does [name of
Licensee] share?
Can you limit this sharing?
For our everyday business purposes—
such as to process your transactions, maintain
your account(s), respond to court orders and legal
investigations, or report to credit bureaus
For our marketing purposes—
to offer our products and services to you
For joint marketing with other financial companies
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your transactions and experiences
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your creditworthiness
For our affiliates to market to you
For nonaffiliates to market to you
Questions?
Call [telephone number] or go to [website]
Page 2
Who we are
Who is providing this notice?
[Insert name of Licensee(s)]
What we do
How does [name of Licensee]
protect my personal information?
To protect your personal information from unauthorized access
and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law.
These measures include computer safeguards and secured files
and buildings.
[insert]
How does [name of Licensee]
collect my personal information?
We collect your personal information, for example, when you
or
or
or
[We also collect your personal information from other companies] OR [We
also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus,
affiliates, or other companies.]
Why can’t I limit all sharing?
Federal law gives you the right to limit only
sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes—information
about your creditworthiness
affiliates from using your information to market to you
sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you
State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to
limit sharing. [See below for more on your rights under state law.]
Definitions
Affiliates
Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be
financial and nonfinancial companies.
[affiliate information]
Nonaffiliates
Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be
financial and nonfinancial companies.
[nonaffiliate information]
Joint marketing
A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that
together market financial products or services to you.
[joint marketing information]
Other important information
[Insert other important information]
Version 2: Model Forms with Opt-out by Telephone and/or Online
FACTS
WHAT DOES [Name of Licensee]
Rev. [insert date]
DO WITH
DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Why?
Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives
consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how
we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to
understand what we do.
What?
The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you
have with us. This information can include:
Social Security number and
and
and
How?
All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday
business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their
customers’ personal information; the reasons [name of Licensee] chooses to share; and
whether you can limit this sharing.
Reasons we can share your personal information
Does [name of
Licensee] share?
Can you limit this sharing?
For our everyday business purposes—
such as to process your transactions, maintain
your account(s), respond to court orders and legal
investigations, or report to credit bureaus
For our marketing purposes—
to offer our products and services to you
For joint marketing with other financial companies
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your transactions and experiences
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your creditworthiness
For our affiliates to market to you
For nonaffiliates to market to you
To limit
our sharing
Call [telephone number]—our menu will prompt you through your choice(s) or
Visit us online: [website]
Please note:
If you are a new customer, we can begin sharing your information [30] days from the date we
sent this notice. When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as
described in this notice.
However, you can contact us at any time to limit our sharing.
Questions?
Call [telephone number]
or go to [website]
Page 2
Who we are
Who is providing this notice?
[Insert name of Licensee(s)]
What we do
How does [name of Licensee]
protect my personal information?
To protect your personal information from unauthorized access
and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law.
These measures include computer safeguards and secured files
and buildings.
[insert]
How does [name of Licensee]
collect my personal information?
We collect your personal information, for example, when you
or
or
or
[We also collect your personal information from other companies.] OR [We
also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus,
affiliates, or other companies.]
Why can’t I limit all sharing?
Federal law gives you the right to limit only
sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes—information
about your creditworthiness
affiliates from using your information to market to you
sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you
State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to
limit sharing. [See below for more on your rights under state law.]
What happens when I limit sharing
for an account I hold jointly with
someone else?
[Your choices will apply to everyone on your account.]
OR
[Your choices will apply to everyone on your account – unless you tell us
otherwise.]
Definitions
Affiliates
Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be
financial and nonfinancial companies.
[affiliate information]
Nonaffiliates
Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be
financial and nonfinancial companies.
[nonaffiliate information]
Joint marketing
A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that
together market financial products or services to you.
[joint marketing information]
Other important information
[Insert other important information]
Version 3: Model Form with Mail In Opt-Out Form
FACTS
WHAT DOES [Name of Licensee]
DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Rev. [insert date]
Why?
Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives
consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how
we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to
understand what we do.
What?
The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you
have with us. This information can include:
Social Security number and
and
and
How?
All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday
business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their
customers’ personal information; the reasons [name of Licensee] chooses to share; and
whether you can limit this sharing.
Reasons we can share your personal information
Does [name of
Licensee] share?
Can you limit this sharing?
For our everyday business purposes—
such as to process your transactions, maintain
your account(s), respond to court orders and legal
investigations, or report to credit bureaus
For our marketing purposes—
to offer our products and services to you
For joint marketing with other financial companies
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your transactions and experiences
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your creditworthiness
For our affiliates to market to you
For nonaffiliates to market to you
To limit
our sharing
Call [telephone number] —our menu will prompt you through your choice(s)
Visit us online: [website] or
Mail the form below
Please note:
If you are a new customer, we can begin sharing your information [30] days from the date we
sent this notice. When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as
described in this notice.
However, you can contact us at any time to limit our sharing.
Questions?
Call [telephone number]
or go to [website]
Mail-in Form
Leave Blank
OR
[If you have a joint
account, your
choice(s) will apply
to everyone on your
account unless you
mark below.
□ Apply my choices
only to me.]
Mark any/all you want to limit:
□ Do not share information about my creditworthiness with your affiliates for their everyday
purposes.
□ Do not allow your affiliates to use my personal information to market to me.
□ Do not share my personal information with nonaffiliates to market their products and services to
me.
Name
Address
City, State, Zip
[Account #]
Mail To:
[Name of Licensee, address, city, state, zip code]
Page 2
P
Who we are
Who is providing this notice?
[Insert name of Licensee(s)]
What we do
How does [name of Licensee]
protect my personal information?
To protect your personal information from unauthorized access
and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law.
These measures include computer safeguards and secured files
and buildings.
[insert]
How does [name of Licensee]
collect my personal information?
We collect your personal information, for example, when you
or
or
or
[We also collect your personal information from other companies.] OR [ We
also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus,
affiliates, or other companies.]
Why can’t I limit all sharing?
Federal law gives you the right to limit only
- sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes—information
about your creditworthiness
- affiliates from using your information to market to you
- sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you
State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to
limit sharing. [See below for more on your rights under state law.]
What happens when I limit sharing
for an account I hold jointly with
someone else?
[Your choices will apply to everyone on your account.]
OR
[Your choices will apply to everyone on your account – unless you tell us
otherwise.]
Definitions
Affiliates
Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be
financial and nonfinancial companies.
[affiliate information]
Nonaffiliates
Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be
financial and nonfinancial companies.
[nonaffiliate information]
Joint marketing
A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that
together market financial products or services to you.
[joint marketing information]
Other important information
[Insert other important information]
Version 4: Optional Mail-in Form
Mail-in Form
Leave Blank
OR
[If you have a joint
account, your
choice(s) will apply
to everyone on your
account unless you
mark below.
□ Apply my choices
only to me.]
Mark any/all you want to limit:
□ Do not share information about my creditworthiness with your affiliates for their everyday
purposes.
□ Do not allow your affiliates to use my personal information to market to me.
□ Do not share my personal information with nonaffiliates to market their products and services to
me.
Name
Address
City, State, Zip
[Account #]
Mail To:
[Name of Licensee, address, city, state, zip code]
Attachment B - General Instructions
1. How the Federal Model Privacy Form is used.
(a) The Federal Model Privacy Form (“Model Form”) may be used, at the option of a
Licensee, including a group of Licensees or financial institutions that use a common privacy
notice, to meet the content requirements set forth in Sections 7 and 8 of the Vermont Privacy
Regulation.
(b) The Model Form is a standardized form, including page layout, content, format, style,
pagination, and shading. Licensees seeking to obtain a safe harbor through use of the Model
Form may modify it only as described in these instructions.
(c) Note that disclosure of certain information, such as assets, income, and information
from a consumer reporting agency, may give rise to obligations under the Fair Credit
Reporting Act [15 U.S.C. §§1681 – 1681x] (“FCRA”), such as a requirement to permit a
consumer to opt out of disclosures to affiliates or designation as a consumer reporting agency
if disclosures are made to nonaffiliated third parties. [For Vermont consumers – the Vermont
Fair Credit Reporting Act [9 V.S.A. §§2480a – 2480n] (“VCRA”) imposes additional
requirements. A Licensee may not share a Vermont consumer’s credit report without the
Vermont consumer’s consent. 9 V.S.A. §2480e.]
(d) The word “customer” may be replaced by the word “member” whenever it appears
in the Model Form, as appropriate.
2. The contents of the Federal Model Privacy Form.
The Model Form consists of two pages, which may be printed on both sides of a single sheet of
paper, or may appear on two separate pages. Where a Licensee provides a long list of
Licensees or financial institutions at the end of the Model Form in accordance with the
Instructions in Attachment C section 3(a)(1), or provides additional information in accordance
with the Instructions in Attachment C section 3(c), and such list or additional information
exceeds the space available on page two of the Model Form, such list or additional information
may extend to a third page.
(a) Page One. The first page consists of the following components:
(1) Date last revised (upper right-hand corner)
(2) Title
(3) Key frame (Why?, What?, How?)
(4) Disclosure table (“Reasons we can share your personal information”)
(5) “To limit our sharing” box, as needed, for licensee’s opt-out information
(6) “Questions” box, for customer service contact information
(7) Mail-in opt-out form, as needed [For Vermont customers, the Licensee may include
a mail-in opt-in form, as needed]
(b) Page Two. The second page consists of the following components:
(1) Heading (Page 2)
(2) Frequently Asked Questions (“Who we are” and “What we do”)
(3) Definitions
(4) “Other important information” box, as needed [For Licensees providing notices to
Vermont consumers, see additional information about the “other important information”
box in the body of this Bulletin #188.]
3. The format of the Federal Model Privacy Form.
The format of the Model Form may be modified only as described below.
(a) Easily readable type font. Licensees that use the Model Form must use an easily
readable type font. While a number of factors together produce easily readable type font,
Licensees are required to use a minimum of 10-point font (unless otherwise expressly
permitted in these Instructions) and sufficient spacing between the lines of type.
(b) Logo. A Licensee may include a corporate logo on any page of the notice, so long as it
does not interfere with the readability of the Model Form or the space constraints of each page.
(c) Page size and orientation. Each page of the Model Form must be printed on paper in
portrait orientation, the size of which must be sufficient to meet the layout and minimum font
size requirements, with sufficient white space on the top, bottom, and sides of the content.
(d) Color. The Model Form must be printed on white or light color paper (such as cream)
with black or other contrasting ink color. Spot color may be used to achieve visual interest, so
long as the color contrast is distinctive and the color does not detract from the readability of the
Model Form. Logos may also be printed in color.
(e) Languages. The Model Form may be translated into languages other than English.
Attachment C - Information Required in the Federal Model Privacy Form
The information in the Model Form may be modified only as described below:
1. Name of the Licensee or group of affiliated Licensees or institutions providing the
notice.
Insert the name of the Licensee providing the notice or a common identity of affiliated licensees or
institutions jointly providing the notice on the form wherever [name of Licensee] appears.
2. Page one.
(a) Last revised date. The Licensee must insert in the upper right-hand corner the date on
which the notice was last revised. The information shall appear in minimum 8-point font as “rev.
[month/year]” using either the name or number of the month, such as “rev. July 2009” or “rev.
7/09”.
(b) General instructions for the “What?” box.
(1) The bulleted list identifies the types of personal information that the Licensee collects
and shares. All Licensees must use the term “Social Security number” in the first bullet.
(2) Licensees must use five (5) of the following terms to complete the bulleted list: income;
account balances; payment history; transaction history; transaction or loss history; credit history;
credit scores; assets; investment experience; credit-based insurance scores; insurance claim
history; medical information; overdraft history; purchase history; account transactions; risk
tolerance; medical-related debts; credit card or other debt; mortgage rates and payments; retirement
assets; checking account information; employment information; wire transfer instructions.
(c) General instructions for the disclosure table. The left column lists reasons for sharing or
using personal information. Each reason correlates to a specific legal provision described in
Attachment C section 2(d) of this Instruction. In the middle column, each Licensee must provide a
“Yes” or “No” response that accurately reflects its information sharing policies and practices with
respect to the reason listed on the left. In the right column, each Licensee must provide in each box
one of the following three (3) responses, as applicable, that reflects whether a consumer can limit
such sharing: “Yes” if it is required to or voluntarily provides an opt-out; “No” if it does not
provide an opt-out; or “We don’t share” if it answers “No” in the middle column. Only the sixth
row (“For our affiliates to market to you”) may be omitted at the option of the Licensee.
See Attachment C section 2(d)(6) of this Instruction.
(d) Specific disclosures and corresponding legal provisions.
(1) For our everyday business purposes. This reason incorporates sharing information
under Sections 15 and 16 of the Vermont Privacy Regulation and with service providers pursuant
to Section 14 of the Vermont Privacy Regulation, other than the purposes specified in Attachment
C sections 2(d)(2) or 2(d)(3).
(2) For our marketing purposes. This reason incorporates sharing information with service
providers by a Licensee for its own marketing pursuant to Section 14 of the Vermont Privacy
Regulation. A Licensee that shares for this reason may choose to provide an opt-out.
(3) For joint marketing with other financial companies. This reason incorporates sharing
information under joint marketing agreements between two or more Licensees or financial
institutions and with any service provider used in connection with such agreements pursuant to
Section 14 of the Vermont Privacy Regulation. A Licensee that shares for this reason may choose
to provide an opt-out.
(4) For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about transactions and
experiences. This reason incorporates sharing information specified in sections 603(d)(2)(A)(i)
and (ii) of the FCRA and 9 V.S.A. §2480a(2) of the VCRA. A Licensee that shares for this reason
may choose to provide an opt-out.
(5) For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about creditworthiness.
This reason incorporates sharing information pursuant to section 603(d)(2)(A)(iii) of the FCRA and
9 V.S.A. §2480e of the VCRA. Under the FCRA a Licensee that shares for this reason must
provide an opt-out. [For Vermont consumers, however, Licensees are reminded that Vermont is an
opt-in state and, pursuant to 9 V.S.A. §2480e, a Licensee shall not share information about a
Vermont consumer’s creditworthiness for affiliates’ everyday purposes unless the Vermont
consumer specifically consents to the sharing of such information.]
(6) For our affiliates to market to you. This reason incorporates sharing information
specified in section 624 of the FCRA. This reason may be omitted from the disclosure table when:
the Licensee does not have affiliates (or does not disclose personal information to its affiliates); the
Licensee’s affiliates do not use personal information in a manner that requires an opt-out; or the
Licensee provides the affiliate marketing notice separately. Licensees that include this reason must
provide an opt-out of indefinite duration. A Licensee that is required to provide an affiliate
marketing opt-out, but does not include that opt-out in the Model Form under this part, must
comply with section 624 of the FCRA with respect to the initial notice and opt-out and any
subsequent renewal notice and opt-out. A Licensee not required to provide an opt-out under this
subparagraph may elect to include this reason in the Model Form.
(7) For nonaffiliates to market to you. This reason incorporates sharing described in
Sections 8 and 11 of the Vermont Privacy Regulation. [For Vermont consumers, Licensees are
reminded that Vermont is an opt-in state and a Licensee shall not share personal information with
nonaffiliates to market to Vermont consumers unless the Vermont consumer specifically consents
to the sharing of such information.]
(e) To limit our sharing. A Licensee must include this section of the Model Form only if it
provides an opt-out. The word “choice” may be written in either the singular or plural, as
appropriate. Licensees must select one or more of the applicable opt-out methods described:
telephone, such as by a toll-free number; a Website; or use of a mail-in opt-out form. Licensees
may include the words “toll-free” before telephone, as appropriate. A Licensee that allows
consumers to opt out online must provide either a specific Web address that takes consumers
directly to the opt-out page or a general Web address that provides a clear and conspicuous direct
link to the opt-out page. The opt-out choices made available to the consumer who contacts the
licensee through these methods must correspond accurately to the “Yes” responses in the third
column of the disclosure table. In the part titled “Please note” Licensees may insert a number that
is 30 or greater in the space marked “[30].” Instructions on voluntary or state privacy law opt-out
information are in Attachment C section 2(g)(5) of these Instructions. [For Vermont consumers
Licensee are reminded that Vermont is an opt-in state with respect to section 2 (d)(5), For our
affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about creditworthiness, and with respect to
section 2 (d)(7), For nonaffiliates to market to you.]
(f) Questions box. Customer service contact information must be inserted as appropriate, where
[phone number] or [website] appear. Licensees may elect to provide either a phone number, such
as a toll-free number, or a Web address, or both. Licensees may include the words “toll-free”
before the telephone number, as appropriate.
(g) Mail-in opt-out form. Licensees must include this mail-in form only if they state in the “To
limit our sharing” box that consumers can opt out by mail. The mail-in form must provide opt-out
options that correspond accurately to the “Yes” responses in the third column in the disclosure
table. Licensees that require customers to provide only name and address may omit the section
identified as “[account #].” Licensees that require additional or different information, such as a
random opt-out number or a truncated account number, to implement an opt-out election should
modify the “[account #]” reference accordingly. This includes Licensees that require customers
with multiple accounts to identify each account to which the opt-out should apply. A Licensee
must enter its opt-out mailing address: in the far right of this form (see version 3); or below the
form (see version 4). The reverse side of the mail-in opt-out form must not include any content of
the Model Form.
(1) Joint accountholder. Only Licensees that provide their joint accountholders the choice
to opt out for only one accountholder, in accordance with Attachment C section 3(a)(5) of these
Instructions, must include in the far left column of the mail-in form the following statement: “If
you have a joint account, your choice(s) will apply to everyone on your account unless you mark
below. □ Apply my choice(s) only to me.” The word “choice” may be written in either the singular
or plural, as appropriate. Licensees that provide insurance products or services, provide this
option, and elect to use the Model Form may substitute the word “policy” for “account” in this
statement. Licensees that do not provide this option may eliminate this left column from the mailin form. [For Vermont joint accountholders, whenever opt-in consent is required, the Licensee
may only disclose nonpublic personal financial information after obtaining an affirmative consent
from the customer. Joint information may only be disclosed after obtaining the affirmative consent
of all joint accountholders.]
(2) FCRA Section 603(d)(2)(A)(iii) opt-out. If the Licensee shares personal information
pursuant to section 603(d)(2)(A)(iii) of the FCRA, it must include in the mail-in opt-out form the
following statement: “□ Do not share information about my creditworthiness with your affiliates
for their everyday business purposes.” [For Vermont consumers, the Licensee may not share
information about the consumer’s creditworthiness with affiliates without first obtaining the
Vermont consumer’s affirmative consent. See 9 V.S.A. §2480e.]
(3) FCRA Section 624 opt-out. If the Licensee incorporates section 624 of the FCRA in
accord with Attachment C section 2(d)(6) of these Instructions, it must include in the mail-in optout form the following statement: “□ Do not allow your affiliates to use my personal information to
market to me.”
(4) Nonaffiliate opt-out. If the Licensee shares personal information for nonaffiliates to
market to consumers, it must include in the mail-in opt-out form the following statement: “□ Do
not share my personal information with nonaffiliates to market their products and services to me.”
[For Vermont consumers, the Licensee may not share personal information with nonaffiliates to
market their products or services to the consumer unless the Vermont consumer affirmatively
consents to the sharing of such information. See Section 11 of the Vermont Privacy Regulation.]
(5) Additional opt-outs. Licensees that use the disclosure table to provide opt-out options
beyond those required by Federal law or state law must provide those opt-outs in this section of the
Model Form. A Licensee that chooses to offer an opt-out for its own marketing in the mail-in optout form must include one of the two following statements: “□ Do not share my personal
information to market to me.” or “□ Do not use my personal information to market to me.” A
Licensee that chooses to offer an opt-out for joint marketing must include the following statement:
“□ Do not share my personal information with other financial institutions to jointly market to me.”
(h) Barcodes. A Licensee may elect to include a barcode and/or “tagline” (an internal
identifier) in 6-point font at the bottom of page one, as needed for information internal to the
institution, so long as these do not interfere with the clarity or text of the form.
3. Page two.
(a) General Instructions for the Questions. Certain of the Questions may be customized as
follows:
(1) “Who is providing this notice?” This question may be omitted where only one Licensee
provides the Model Form and that Licensee is clearly identified in the title on page one. Two or
more Licensees or financial institutions that jointly provide the Model Form must use this question
to identify themselves as required by Section 10(F) of the Vermont Privacy Regulation. Where the
list of Licensees or financial institutions exceeds four (4) lines, the Licensee must describe in the
response to this question the general types of Licensees or financial institutions jointly providing
the notice and must separately identify those Licensees or financial institutions, in minimum 8-
point font, directly following the “Other important information” box, or, if that box is not included
in the institution’s form, directly following the “Definitions.” The list may appear in a multicolumn format.
(2) “How does [name of Licensee] protect my personal information?” The Licensee may
only provide additional information pertaining to its safeguards practices following the designated
response to this question. Such information may include information about the Licensee’s use of
cookies or other measures it uses to safeguard personal information. Licensees are limited to a
maximum of 30 additional words.
(3) “How does [name of Licensee] collect my personal information?” Licensees must use
five (5) of the following terms to complete the bulleted list for this question: open an account;
deposit money; pay your bills; apply for a loan; use your credit or debit card; seek financial or tax
advice; apply for insurance; pay insurance premiums; file an insurance claim; seek advice about
your investments; buy securities from us; sell securities to us; direct us to buy securities; direct us
to sell your securities; make deposits or withdrawals from your account; enter into an investment
advisory contract; give us your income information; provide employment information; give us your
employment history; tell us about your investment or retirement portfolio; tell us about your
investment or retirement earnings; apply for financing; apply for a lease; provide account
information; give us your contact information; pay us by check; give us your wage statements;
provide your mortgage information; make a wire transfer; tell us who receives the money; tell us
where to send the money; show your government-issued ID; show your driver’s license; order a
commodity futures or option trade. Licensees that collect personal information from their affiliates
and/or credit bureaus must include after the bulleted list the following statement: “We also collect
your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.”
Licensees that do not collect personal information from their affiliates or credit bureaus but do
collect information from other companies must include the following statement instead: “We also
collect your personal information from other companies.” Only Licensees that do not collect any
personal information from affiliates, credit bureaus, or other companies can omit both statements.
(4) “Why can’t I limit all sharing?” Licensees that describe state privacy law provisions in
the “Other important information” box must use the bracketed sentence: “See below for more on
your rights under state law.” Other Licensees must omit this sentence.
(5) “What happens when I limit sharing for an account I hold jointly with someone else?”
Only Licensees that provide opt-out options must use this question. Other licensees must omit this
question. Licensees must choose one of the following two statements to respond to this question:
“Your choices will apply to everyone on your account.” or “Your choices will apply to everyone on
your account–unless you tell us otherwise.” Licensees that provide insurance products or services
and elect to use the Model Form may substitute the word “policy” for “account” in these
statements. [For Vermont joint accountholders, whenever opt-in consent is required, the Licensee
may only disclose nonpublic personal financial information after obtaining an affirmative consent
from the consumer. Joint information may only be disclosed after obtaining the affirmative
consent of all joint accountholders.]
(b) General Instructions for the Definitions. The Licensee must customize the space below the
responses to the three definitions in this section. This specific information must be in italicized
lettering to set off the information from the standardized definitions.
(1) Affiliates. As required by Section 7(A)(3) of the Vermont Privacy Regulation, where
[affiliate information] appears, the Licensee must:
(i) If it has no affiliates, state: “[name of Licensee] has no affiliates”;
(ii) If it has affiliates but does not share personal information, state: “[name of
Licensee] does not share with our affiliates”; or
(iii) If it shares with its affiliates, state, as applicable: “Our affiliates include companies
with a [common corporate identity of Licensee] name; financial companies such as [insert
illustrative list of companies]; nonfinancial companies, such as [insert illustrative list of
companies;] and others, such as [insert illustrative list].”
(2) Nonaffiliates. As required by Section 7 (C)(3) of the Vermont Privacy Regulation,
where [nonaffiliate information] appears, the Licensee must:
(i) If it does not share with nonaffiliated third parties, state: “[name of Licensee] does
not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you”; or
(ii) If it shares with nonaffiliated third parties, state, as applicable: ‘‘Nonaffiliates we
share with can include [list categories of companies such as mortgage companies, insurance
companies, direct marketing companies, and nonprofit organizations].”
(3) Joint Marketing. As required by Section 14 of the Vermont Privacy Regulation, where
[joint marketing] appears, the Licensee must:
(i) If it does not engage in joint marketing, state: “[name of Licensee] doesn’t jointly
market”; or
(ii) If it shares personal information for joint marketing, state, as applicable: “Our joint
marketing partners include [list categories of companies such as credit card companies].”
(c) General instructions for the “Other important information” box. This box is optional. The
space provided for information in this box is not limited. Only the following types of information
can appear in this box.
(1) State and/or international privacy law information; and/or
(2) Acknowledgment of receipt form.
[For Vermont consumers, the body of this Bulletin #188 includes sample language to describe
Vermont privacy law.]