Privacy Policy

Privacy Disclosures (PDF)

Our Commitment to you:

Horizon Credit Union is committed to protecting the privacy of our members. Your privacy is a top priority to the Board of Directors and Staff of Horizon Credit Union.

Updated: Tuesday, October 1st, 2023

Sharing Information with Third Party Service Providers

In order for us to conduct our operations, including servicing your account or processing your transactions, we need to share information with our service providers, including data processing companies, check, ATM and other payment processing companies, payment networks, loan service providers, insurance companies, collection agencies, credit reporting agencies, and financial service providers with whom we have joint marketing agreements. These service providers act on our behalf and have agreed in writing to keep the member information we provide to them confidential. We share the following categories of information to third party service providers depending on the specific services provided:

  • Personal information (name, address, email address, and account number)
  • Account information (type of accounts, account balances, and transaction history)
  • Transaction information (dates, amounts, locations, and type of transaction)

We do not sell member information nor share your account numbers with independent third-party marketers offering their products and services. While we may assist in offering financial products and services from our contracted financial service providers, we control the member information used to make such offers.

Our Privacy Pledge

At Horizon Credit Union, we respect the privacy of our members. We recognize the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of your personal financial information. This notice describes the privacy policy and practices followed by Horizon Credit Union.

This notice explains what types of member information we collect and under what circumstances we may share it.

Member Information We Collect

The Credit Union collects only relevant information about members that is needed to establish and maintain your account and services as the law allows or requires us to collect. We may collect personal and financial information about you (member information) which is “nonpublic.” The member information we collect varies depending on the accounts and services you request and use. We collect information about you from the following sources:

Application Information

The credit union will retain personal information we receive from you on any application you provide for membership, deposit account, EFT services, loans, or other Credit Union services. This information includes name, address, social security number, birth date, phone number, beneficiaries, employment, financial status, and credit history.

Your Transactions

Any time you make a transaction on one of your accounts, including ATM or card transactions, loan advances, transactions through online banking or our mobile app, over the phone, which will include: your account number, the date, amount, location of the transaction, and other pertinent information.

Credit Reports

When we evaluate your application for an account or service, we may request a credit report about you from a consumer reporting agency. We retain personal and credit history information about you and we may use it to evaluate future account service requests.

Online

We obtain information online when you visit our website, myhorizoncu.org. This includes retaining information you provide us with on any online application, Internet Teller transactions, or information you send to us by e-mail.

Member Information We Share

To provide financial services to you, we share certain information about you with our third-party service providers. However, we only share information to the extent necessary to service your account or offer new services to you. If we share your information, it is with the goal of bringing you quality services, more choices, and greater convenience. Information we may have about former members is generally only shared or disclosed if necessary to enforce or administer an account or as required by law.

Sharing Information as Legally Required or Permitted

We may share any member information of yours in response to a lawful request issued by a court, government agency, or regulatory authority or as permitted by law to administer or enforce your account. We may also share our experience information about you with credit bureaus. Our reporting to credit bureaus is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which affords you the right to make sure that your credit bureau reports are accurate.

Our Confidentiality and Security Safeguards

We maintain strict policies and security controls to assure that member information in our computer systems and files is protected. Our employees are permitted access to member information that they may need to perform their jobs and to provide service to you. Our employees have access to such member information as necessary to conduct a transaction or respond to your inquiries. All employees are trained to respect member
privacy. No one except our employees has regular access to the Credit Union computer system and records storage. The Credit Union has established internal security controls, including physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect the information you provide us with and the information we collect about you. We will continue to review our internal security controls to safeguard your members’ information as we employ new technology in the future.

Online Privacy Protections

At our website, myhorizoncu.org, you may apply for accounts and services, and you may communicate with us via e-mail. To protect the information you provide us online, we use multiple levels of security. The application information we accept online, and our Internet Teller service relies on industry standard “Secure Sockets Layer” (SSL) encryption to secure your transaction information and communication. Generally, our e-mails are not secure. However, if we ask you to e-mail us information other than your name, address, e-mail address and phone number, it will be obtained using a secure (SSL encryption) e-mail form. When you visit our website, you can access site information, without revealing your personal identity. However, to help us identify you for future site visits, we use “cookies” to track your visit. A “cookie” is a piece of
information that our web server stores on your computer hard drive and retrieves later. The cookie will not request, require, or collect personal identity information and you remain anonymous. Your member information is not accessed by or stored within a cookie in any way.

Protecting Children’s Information Privacy

Our online financial services are not designed for or directed toward children. We do not knowingly solicit or collect data from children, and we do not knowingly market to children online. We recognize that protecting children’s identities and online privacy is important and that responsibility rests with us and with parents.

Privacy Policy Inquiries

If you have any questions about our privacy practices, contact us by calling 423-229-9463, sending us an e-mail at generalinfo@myhcu.org, or If you have any questions about our privacy practices, contact us by calling 423-530-7778 or 423-229-9463, sending us an e-mail at generalinfo@myhcu.org, or writing to us at Horizon Credit Union, 1201 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport, TN 37664.

Opt Out

If for any reason you would like to be removed from marketing solicitation other than that required to keep you informed of current account status, legal updates or from that which you have given prior authorization, please write to us at Horizon Credit Union, 1201 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport, TN 37664 or by sending us an e-mail at generalinfo@myhcu.org It is important that in the body of your written message, you clearly state which mailing you recently received in order to make your decision to opt out. This will assist us in making sure that you are removed from that mailing list as soon as possible. It is also important to let us know your full name and matching account mailing address to accurately remove this content from future mailings.

Ways to Limit Direct Marketing

Horizon Credit Union will honor our commitment to protecting your privacy. There are, however, outside agencies which are in the business of compiling mailing lists for purchase by marketers. To reduce the advertising you receive from these companies, write to:

Mail Preference Service (mail solicitations)
Attn: Dept. 13743497
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512

Telephone Preference Service (phone solicitations)

Attn: Dept. 11813482
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 1559, Carmel, NY 10512

To register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry call 888-382-1222 or submit your number online at www.donotcall.gov. Be sure to include your complete name and address. You will remain in the consumer exclusion files for five years.

To have your name removed from pre-approved credit solicitations, call or write:

Equifax, Inc. Options
P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

1-888-5OPT OUT (888-567-8688)

Experian Consumer Opt-Out
901 West Bond
Lincoln, NE 68521

1-888-5OPT OUT (888-567-8688

Trans Union LLC Name Removal Option
P.O. Box 505
Woodlyn, PA 19094

1-888-5OPT OUT (888-567-8688

Prevention Tips

You can stop identity theft at the source by preventing your private information from falling into the wrong hands. Here are some tips you can do to prevent identity theft.

  1. Shred all important documents. Today’s thieves may be technological masterminds when it comes to manipulating your information for their gain, but that doesn’t mean they are beyond dumpster diving. Make sure you cross-shred all documents that contain any personal information, such as credit card or bank account numbers, social security number, receipts for credit or ATM card transactions and all mail that contains your name and address.
  2. Never give personal information or credit card number over the phone unless you initiated the phone call. If you should receive a call requesting this information, hang-up and call the company requesting this information directly back using the number you have on file and report the attempt. Your financial institution or credit card provider can verify if the call was legitimate or a possible scam.
  3. Request your free credit reports each year. Since identity thieves specialize in stealing your personal information and opening new credit accounts in your name instead of simply making fraudulent charges to your existing accounts, it is extremely important that you monitor your credit report. Visit http://annualcreditreport.com/, call 1-877-322-8228, or write to:Annual Credit Report Request Service
    P.O. Box 105281
    Atlanta, GA 30348-5281To receive your free reports (you can receive one a year from each of the major credit agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). Even if you don’t obtain all three reports at once, make sure you review your report from each agency at least once a year as some credit accounts won’t appear on reports for all three agencies.
  4. Use strong passwords and PIN numbers on all financial accounts and change them often. Make sure your passwords and PIN codes for all financial institutions aren’t obvious to someone who may know you. Birthdays, anniversaries and nicknames, aren’t very strong. If you must write your passwords and PIN codes down don’t leave them in your desk at work. If possible, try not to use the same passwords and PIN codes for all accounts and change them every three months for an extra measure of security.
  5. Mail all bills from the post office and not your own mailbox. Although it may be convenient to simply walk to the curb, put your outgoing mail in your mailbox and raise the red flag for the postman, you may be unintentionally alerting thieves to easy access to your bank or credit accounts numbers. Instead mail it at the post office where it will be safely locked inside a mailbox.
  6. Reduce your junk mail and unsolicited credit card offers. Visit the national credit bureau’s opt-out website at http://www.optoutprescreen.com/or call them at 1-888-567-8688. Also register with the Do Not Call Registry (http://www.donotcall.gov/ or 1-888-382-1222).
  7. Always know where your credit card is — even in restaurants and retail stores. Although not having to carry cash is convenient, using a credit card in venues where you cannot always see the person running your card might be putting you at risk. If keeping your card within your line of sight isn’t always possible, pay with cash instead.
  8. See if your credit card company offers any free safety features for online shopping. Although many online retail outlets promise “secure” shopping on their sites, you can never be too safe. Some financial institutions offer built in features to protect you-and your money-from becoming vulnerable.
  9. Don’t carry your social security number with you, and don’t use it as a user ID or password. Since your social security number is the key that could single handedly unlock numerous doors for identity thieves, you want to protect this number more than you want to protect anything else. So, memorize it and then lock your original card away in a safe place. Don’t make copies of it, and don’t give the number out unless it is absolutely necessary. Before giving it out, make sure you ask the institution you are giving it to (mortgage lender, healthcare provider, etc) what their privacy policy is and how your information will be protected.
  10. Monitor credit card bills and bank statements carefully each month. Smart thieves won’t make huge purchases, and they won’t make multiple purchases on one account at one time. Instead, they will monitor your spending habits and will try to make purchases that mimic yours in hopes that you won’t notice that they are using your account. Once a month schedule a time to sit down and study your credit card bills and bank statements so you can ensure that you are only paying for purchases that you authorized or made. Make sure to pay special attention to bills and statements that come just after a vacation, as account information is more easily stolen when people travel.
  11. Cancel your paper bills and statements whenever possible and instead check your statements and pay bills online.
  12. Beware of online “friends” who may really be identity thieves in disguise. Internet chat rooms, online dating sites and teen friendly sites like Facebook or MySpace might be making you and your family more vulnerable to identity theft than you think. Educate your children about identity theft so they don’t unintentionally pass along personal information to someone who may be posing as a friend. And regularly check your children’s profile pages to make sure addresses and phone numbers aren’t being released to the public.
  13. Don’t leave your purse or wallet in your car.
  14. For additional information, go to the National Credit Union Administration at www.ncua.gov.

A few additional tips:

  • Use and regularly update firewall, anti-spyware and anti-virus software.
  • Be wary of Internet or email hoaxes, spoofs and scams. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Check with the Better Business Bureau before doing business with unknown companies.

First Kingsport Credit Union offers Verified by VISA®. You can shop online with added security and peace of mind when you take advantage of Verified by VISA. Use your current First Kingsport Credit Union VISA card, visit http://www.visa.com/verifiedand create a password. Then every time you make a purchase at a participating online vendor, your identity will be confirmed before the sale is complete, thus helping prevent unauthorized purchases.

The ABC’s of Identity Theft

Empowering yourself against identity theft and fraud begins with knowledge. The more you know about what the risks are, the more you can take measures to prevent yourself from becoming a victim. This Identity Theft Glossary help you better understand the most common terms associated with Identity theft.

Identity Theft Resources and Related Links

Source Website Phone Address Will Provide
Federal Trade Commission ID Theft Resource Center www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft 877-438-4338 Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20580		 Facts about identity theft and prevention
Identity Theft Resource Center www.idtheftcenter.org 858-693-7935 PO Box 26833
San Diego, CA 92196		 Facts about identity theft and prevention
Identity Theft www.identitytheft.com N/A N/A Facts about identity theft and prevention
Annual Credit Reports www.annualcreditreport.com 877-322-8228 PO Box 105283
Atlanta, GA 30348-5283		 Request your free annual credit reports
Opt Out Credit & Insurance Offers www.optoutprescreen.com 888-567-8688 PO Box 600344
Jacksonville, FL 32260		 To remove your name from pre-approved credit offers
Do Not Call List www.donotcall.gov 888-382-1222 Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20580		 To add you name to the National Do Not Call Register
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) www.fbi.gov 202-324-3000 Federal Bureau of Investigation
J Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20535-0001		 FBI
Department of Treasury https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/office-of-foreign-assets-control-sanctions-programs-and-information 202-622-2000 1500 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20220		 Department of Treasury
Department of Justice www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html DOJ Main Switchboard 202-514-2000
Office of the Attorney General 202-353-1555		 Criminal Division/Fraud
10th & Constitution Ave NW
Bond Building 4th Floor
Washington DC 20530		 Department of Justice
Social Security Administration /www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10064.pdf 800-772-1213 Office of Public Inquiries
Windsor Park Building
6401 Security Blvd		 Social Security Administration
Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org 800-646-6222 State Specific Better Business Bureau
Phishing www.antiphishing.org N/A N/A Facts on Phishing
National Credit Union Administration www.ncua.gov 800-755-1030 17 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3428		 National Credit Union Administration

Phishing

Identity thieves are fishing for financial information via email or pop-up messages, which appear to come from legitimate businesses or financial institutions. This is called Phishing. Thieves lure victims into providing social security numbers, account numbers, passwords and other confidential information to commit fraud and steal from financial accounts or credit cards.

How to detect phishing scams: Phishing emails are becoming more sophisticated. Some use the logo of a company or financial institution you trust. Others are linked to websites that closely mirror a reputable website. Luckily there are several identifying features and phrases that help you detect a scam.

  • Verify your account: Horizon Credit Union will never ask you to verify your account number or send any confidential information via email. If you get an email or pop- up that asks you to do so, be very suspicious. Please contact Horizon Credit Union immediately at 423-530-7778 or 423-229-9463.
  • Secure your account: Many phishing scams use scare tactics by suggesting that your account is compromised or violated. The scams urge you to update passwords or verify your account information to prevent unauthorized access. Don’t provide your personal or financial information through your personal email. It’s not a secure method of transmitting confidential information.
  • Threatens action if you don’t respond: While the tone may be polite, the message usually has a sense of urgency. Phishing emails may threaten to close or suspend your account if action is not taken quickly.
  • Review credit card and bank account statements immediately. Check for any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or financial institution. E-statements are the quickest and safest way to receive your statements. You can sign up for E-Statements when logged into the Virtual Branch for more information on E-Statements, please contact us.
  • Spelling errors: Scam artists are getting more sophisticated, but many ugly attemps filled with misspellings still exist.
  • Slightly altered website URL: Phishing websites may use similar URLs(website addresses) to that of a well-known company. By switching or adding a few letters, the address may look correct at first glance. First Kingsport Credit Union does periodically send emails with links to special offers or financial education on our website, but you can also access the information and secure online applications by going directly to https://www.myhorizoncu.org
  • Use online security software. Update your computer with the latest security patches. Use anti-spyware software and anti-virus software.
  • Be cautious about opening attachments or downloading files from emails. The thieves involved in phishing are expert hackers.
  • Report suspicious calls or emails to the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT. Forward spam to the Federal Trade Commission at mailto:spam@uce.gov and to the company impersonated in the phishing email.

Vishing

Vishing, a combination of voice mail and “phishing”, is another scam that is used to steal credit card numbers and other personal information by using the telephone for the use of identity theft. A voice message is used usually notifying the victim that their account has been compromised. You should be suspicious when receiving messages requesting account or credit card numbers. Before you provide any information, contact the financial institution directly for verification.

Tips and tricks to avoid vishing scams:

  • Credit card companies usually refer to members by using thier full names in any communication. If you receive an e-mail or phone call that does not refer to your full name, it may be a scam.
  • Call the phone number on the back of your credit card or your statement to report security concerns. You should not call a phone number provided by an e-mail or phone call regarding possible security issues with any credit card or bank account.
  • If you receive a phone call from anyone requesting your credit card number, or claiming to be from your financial institution, hang up and call the phone number on the back of your credit card and report the attempt. Your financial institution or credit card provider can verify if the call was legitimate or a possible scam.

Smishing

Smishing specifically targets cell phone users and is similar to both email (phishing) and phone (vishing) schemes. The cell phone user receives a text message asking them to reveal personal information such as account numbers, social security number, passwords, address and other confidential information. The information is then used to commit fraud and steal from financial accounts or credit cards, such as withdrawing money from a victim’s account and/or opening up credit under the victim’s name.

How it works?
Cell phone users receive what appears to be a legitimate text message from a bank, financial institution or e-commerce site. The message asks the cell phone user to click on a link via the phone’s internet capabilities or to call a specific number — both the link and the phone number are fraudulent and lead to requests for personal information that can be used to steal the person’s identity.

What to do if you receive a text like this?

    • Don’t respond to any unsolicited text requests for personal information such as account numbers, social security numbers, passwords, address, and other confidential information — even if it does appear to come from a financial organization. This includes requests that ask you to “confirm”, “update” or “verify” your information.
    • Don’t click on links in text messages or call unknown phone numbers provided in the text message. Confirm the source and verify this information independently. If you receive a text from anyone requesting your credit card number, or claiming to be from your financial institution, hang up and call the phone number on the back of your credit card and/or your financial institution to report the attempt.
    • Make sure all of your financial institution accounts have passwords.
    • Monitor your credit report on an annual basis.
    • Report suspicious calls or emails to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ or by calling
      1-877-IDTHEFT. Forward spam to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov and to the company impersonated in the smishing text.

What to do if Identity Theft Happens to You

Despite your best efforts to protect yourself, you still might find yourself as a victim of identity theft. If identity theft happens to you…

      1. Contact your local police department to report it right away to file a report.
      2. Complete an Identity Theft Affidavit so you don’t become responsible for debts incurred. Call the Federal Trade Commission’s toll-free Identity Theft helpline at 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY:1-866-653-4261. Or write to:Federal Trade Commission
        Consumer Response Center
        600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
        Washington, DC 20580
      3. Contact all of your financial institutions
      4. Contact all three credit agencies (see chart below). You may also want to consider putting a security freeze/fraud alert on your credit report. It will prevent anyone from running your credit without you first being notified. A single call to just one agency is all you need to have a fraud alert placed on all three of your accounts within 24 hours. Order additional reports after you’ve resolved the problem on ensure that they reflect the changes. Check again every six months for at least a year.
        Equifax Experian TransUnion
        Website equifax.com experian.com transunion.com
        Order Reports 800-685-1111
        PO Box 740241
        Atlanta, GA 30374-0241        		 888-397-3742
        PO Box 2002
        Allen, TX 75013        		 800-916-8800
        PO Box 1000
        Chester, PA 19022
        Report Fraud 800-525-6285
        PO Box 740256
        Atlanta, GA 30374        		 888-397-3742
        PO Box 2002
        Allen, TX 75013        		 800-680-7289
        Frad Victim Assistance Division
        PO Box 6790
        Fullerton, CA 92834
      5. Contact Horizon Credit Union at 423-530-7778 or 423-229-9463.
      6. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338).
      7. Notify your local postal inspector if mail has been stolen. Mail theft is a federal crime.
      8. Notify the Social Security Administration if your Social Security number has been used at www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm/or 1-800-772-1213.
      9. Change all personal identification numbers (PINs) and passwords, even on unaffected accounts.

The Patriot Act

To assist the government fight against the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, the USA PATRIOT Act (patriotact.com)requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, social security number, and other information that will allow us to identify you. First Kingsport Credit Union will maintain the confidentiality of any information obtained in accordance with our privacy policy and applicable laws and regulations.