Privacy Policy

At Sunward, we are committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of your personal and financial information. This Privacy Policy explains how Sunward Bank Mortgage Services ("Sunward," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and safeguards your information when you interact with our services. We understand that your trust is essential, and we take our responsibility to protect your data seriously.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

We collect personal information that you provide directly to us when you apply for our services, create an account, or communicate with us. This information may include:

• Full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number
• Current and previous residential addresses
• Contact information including email address, phone number, and mailing address
• Employment information, income details, and employment history
• Government-issued identification documents
• Financial information including assets, liabilities, and account details

1.2 Financial Information

To evaluate your eligibility for our financing solutions and provide appropriate services, we collect detailed financial information, including:

• Information about your existing financial obligations and payment history
• Details about your assets, including real estate, vehicles, and savings
• Income verification documents such as tax returns, pay stubs, and W-2 forms
• Information obtained from consumer reporting agencies
• Transaction history and payment records related to our services

1.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website or use our digital services, we automatically collect certain information about your device and usage patterns:

• IP address, browser type, and operating system
• Device identifiers and mobile network information
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation patterns
• Referring website addresses and search terms used to find our site
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies data

2. How We Use Your Information

Sunward uses the information we collect for various legitimate business purposes that enable us to provide you with quality financial services:

2.1 Service Delivery and Account Management

• Processing applications and evaluating eligibility for financing solutions
• Establishing and managing your account and relationship with Sunward
• Providing customer support and responding to your inquiries
• Processing transactions and maintaining accurate records
• Sending important notices about your account, services, and policy changes

2.2 Risk Management and Compliance

• Verifying your identity and preventing fraud or unauthorized access
• Complying with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Conducting internal audits and maintaining business records
• Detecting and preventing illegal activities or policy violations
• Protecting the security and integrity of our systems and services

2.3 Service Improvement and Communication

• Analyzing usage patterns to improve our website and services
• Developing new products and features that meet customer needs
• Conducting market research and customer satisfaction surveys
• Sending promotional materials about services that may interest you (with your consent)
• Personalizing your experience with our services

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

Sunward does not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

3.1 Service Providers and Business Partners

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our business and delivering services to you. These providers may include:

• Technology service providers who maintain our systems and infrastructure
• Consumer reporting agencies for verification purposes
• Professional advisors including attorneys, accountants, and auditors
• Document processing and verification services
• Marketing and communication service providers

All service providers are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality of your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

3.2 Legal and Regulatory Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or when we believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal processes, court orders, or government requests
• Respond to claims that content violates the rights of third parties
• Enforce our terms of service and other agreements
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Sunward, our customers, or others
• Prevent fraud or other illegal activities

3.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email or prominent notice on our website before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4. Data Security Measures

Protecting your information is a top priority at Sunward. We implement comprehensive security measures designed to safeguard your personal and financial data:

4.1 Technical Safeguards

• Industry-standard encryption for data transmission and storage
• Secure socket layer (SSL) technology for all online transactions
• Firewalls and intrusion detection systems to protect our networks
• Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Multi-factor authentication for account access
• Automated monitoring systems to detect suspicious activity

4.2 Administrative and Physical Safeguards

• Strict access controls limiting employee access to customer information
• Comprehensive employee training on data security and privacy practices
• Confidentiality agreements with all employees and contractors
• Secure facilities with controlled physical access
• Regular audits of our security practices and procedures
• Incident response plans for potential security breaches

While we implement robust security measures, no system is completely secure. We encourage you to take steps to protect your information, including using strong passwords, not sharing your login credentials, and promptly notifying us of any suspicious activity.

5. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

You have important rights regarding your personal information. Sunward respects these rights and provides you with the ability to exercise them:

5.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you and request corrections if it is inaccurate or incomplete. To review or update your information, you may:

• Log into your account and update your profile information
• Contact our customer service team at 505-298-7777
• Email us at j.rodriguez@nysunward.com
• Visit our office at 106 Uptown Blvd NE, Suite 200, Albuquerque, 87110

5.2 Marketing Communications

You can opt out of receiving promotional communications from us at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any promotional email
• Adjusting your communication preferences in your account settings
• Contacting us directly with your opt-out request

Please note that even if you opt out of promotional communications, we will still send you important transactional and service-related messages.

5.3 Data Retention and Deletion

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions, including:

• Legal obligations requiring us to retain certain records
• Ongoing business relationships or active accounts
• Legitimate business purposes such as fraud prevention
• Exercising or defending legal claims

5.4 State-Specific Rights

Depending on your state of residence, you may have additional privacy rights under state law. These may include the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to request deletion of your information, and the right to opt out of certain data sharing practices. We do not discriminate against individuals who exercise their privacy rights.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Sunward uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website and improve our services. Understanding how these technologies work helps you make informed decisions about your privacy.

6.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies:Required for basic website functionality, security, and access to secure areas
• Performance Cookies:Help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting anonymous usage data
• Functionality Cookies:Remember your preferences and settings to provide a personalized experience
• Analytics Cookies:Allow us to analyze website traffic and measure the effectiveness of our content

6.2 Managing Cookie Preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete existing cookies. However, disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our website. You can also opt out of third-party analytics cookies through the respective provider's opt-out mechanisms.

7. Compliance with Financial Regulations