At Bank of the South, we understand that privacy is an important concern for our customers, and we recognize our responsibility to keep the information our customers provide to us secure and confidential. We recognize that whether you are an existing customer or are considering a deposit relationship with Bank of the South, you have an interest in how we collect, retain, and use information about you and your business relationship with us. We respect the privacy of our customers and are committed to treating customer information responsibly.
Please click here to download our privacy notice in Adobe PDF format.
Overdraft Policy
We can help you control fees on your account by limiting the circumstances under which your account can be unexpectedly overdrawn. Unless you ask us to, we will not authorize and pay withdrawals made at ATMs, or everyday debit card transactions that would cause your account to be overdrawn. This does not affect payment methods such as checks or other transactions using your checking account number.
If you would like us to authorize and pay ATM and everyday debit card transactions at our discretion, you can fill out a request using the form below and return it to us. Otherwise beginning June 1, 2010 for all new customers, and August 15, 2010 for all existing customers, all accounts will by default be enrolled in our standard overdraft practice which does not allow your account to authorize and pay ATM and everyday debit card transactions.
Click here to download our Overdraft Options form.
Remember you can change your mind and opt in or out as often as you want.
Security Statement
This Internet Banking System brings together a combination of industry-approved security technologies to protect you, our customer. It features password-controlled system entry, a VeriSign-issued Digital bank's server, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol for data encryption, and a router loaded with a firewall to secure and regulate the inflow and outflow of server traffic.
Secure Access and Verifying User Authenticity: To begin a session with the bank's server the user must key in a Log-in ID and a password. Our system, the Internet Banking System, uses a "3 strikes and you're out" lock-out mechanism to deter users from repeated login attempts. After three unsuccessful login attempts, the system locks the user out, requiring either a designated wait period or a phone call to the bank to verify the password before re-entry into the system. Upon successful login, the Digital ID from VeriSign, the experts in digital identification certificates, authenticates the user's identity and establishes a secure session with that visitor.
Secure Data Transfer: Once the server session is established, the user and the server are in a secured environment. Because the server has been certified as a 128-bit secure server by VeriSign, data traveling between the user and the server is encrypted with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. With SSL, data that travels between the bank and customer is encrypted and can only be decrypted with the public and private key pair. In short, the bank's server issues a public key to the end user's browser and creates a temporary private key. These two keys are the only combination possible for that session. When the session is complete, the keys expire and the whole process starts over when a new end user makes a server session.
Router and Firewall: Requests must filter through a router and firewall before they are permitted to reach the server. A router is a type of electronic hardware that works in conjunction with the firewall, a type of security software, to filter, block, and direct traffic coming to the server. The configuration begins by blocking ALL traffic and then opens holes only when necessary to process acceptable data requests, such as retrieving web pages or sending customer requests to the bank.
In Case of Errors Or Questions About Transactions Covered In This Agreement: Customer must call Bank of the South at 850-456-5722 or write to Bank of the South, P. O. Box 3229, Pensacola, FL 32516 as soon as possible if Customer thinks his statement is wrong or if Customer needs more information about a transfer or payment covered by this Agreement which is listed on their statement. Bank must hear from Customer no later than 60 days after Bank sent the first statement on which the problem or error appeared. Information should include: Customer's name and account number; Describe the error, payment or transfer the customer is unsure about, and explain as clearly as Customer can why Customer believes it is an error and why Customer needs more information; tell the Bank the dollar amount of the suspected error. If Customer tells Bank of the suspected error orally, Bank shall require that Customer send Bank the complaints or question in writing within 10 business days. Bank will tell Customer the results of Bank's investigation within 10 business days after Bank hears from Customer and will correct any error promptly. If Bank needs more time to investigate, Bank may take up to 45 additional days to investigate Customer's complaint or question. If the transaction was not initiated in any state, territory or possession of the United States, the initial investigation period will be 20 business days instead of 10 business days, and 90 business days instead of 45 business days, for an expanded investigation. If Bank decides that there was no error, Bank will send Customer a written explanation within 3 business days after the investigation is finished. Customer may ask for copies of the documents that Bank used in its investigation.
Customer Liability: If Customer believes Customer's Internet Banking ID and/or password or other means of access have been lost or stolen, and customer notifies Bank of the South in writing, which notice is received within two business days after Customer learns of the loss or theft, Customer will not be shall be responsible for more than $50.00 if someone used them without Customer's authority after receipt of notice. If Customer does not tell Bank of the South within two business days after Customer learns of the loss or theft of Customer's User ID and/or Password or other means of access, Customer shall be responsible for the full amount of payments or transfers made by someone using them without Customer's authority until Bank of the South receives notice, as more fully described above in this paragraph. If Customer's statement shows payments or transfers covered by this Agreement that Customer did not make or authorize, Customer must notify Bank at once. If Customer does not notify the Bank of the South within 60 days after the statement was mailed to him, the Bank of the South shall have no liability to Customer for such payments or transfers.
Statements: Customer's Internet Banking transfers will be listed on the monthly statements that Bank of the South provides or makes accessible to Customer. Customer agrees to notify Bank of the South within 60 days if Customer changes address.
Canceling The Service: To cancel your Internet Service, you must contact Bank of the South in writing to notify us of your decision to cancel. Bank of the South may cancel or suspend your service at anytime without notice.
Law That Applies: Regardless of where Customer lives or works or where Customer accesses the Bank of the South Web services, this Agreement is subject to the laws of the State of Florida and the Federal Law of the United States of America with, in either event, consideration of conflicts of law principles. If any of the terms of the Agreement cannot be legally enforced, they will be considered changed to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law.
Attorney's Fees: In the event any action is filed in relation to this Agreement, the unsuccessful party in the action whall pay to the sucessful party in addition to all the sums that either party may be called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the successful party's attorney fees.
Excusable Delay: No party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other for any loss, cost or damages, arising out of, or resulting from, any failure to perform in accordance with the terms of this Agreement where such failure shall be beyond the reasonable control of such party, which, as employed here, shall be deemed to mean, but not limited to, acts of God, strikes, lockouts, or other industrial disturbances, wars, whether declared or undeclared, blockades, insurrections, or government action, explosions, fire, floods, or any other cause not within the reasonable control of either party.
Amendments: The terms and conditions governing Internet Banking including costs and fees may be amended by Bank of the South at anytime upon 30 days advance notice. Your continued use of the service is your acceptance of any Amendment(s) of the Agreement, including any instruction of the use of this service as may be amended from time to time. You agree that any notice from the Bank regarding the service will be sent to you at the Bank's choice, via either electronic mail or standard mail and will be considered delivered at the time sent by the Bank. The Bank of the South may not immediately respond to email, so you should not rely on email to communicate with Bank of the South immediately.
Using the above technologies, your Internet banking transactions are secure.
Your Billing Rights
This notice tells you about your rights and responsibilities under the Fair Credit Billing Act.
What To Do If You Find A Mistake On Your Statement If you think there is an error on your statement, write to us at the address shown on your monthly statement
In your letter, give us the following information:
• Account information: Your name and account number.
• Dollar amount: The dollar amount of the suspected error.
• Description of problem: If you think there is an error on your bill, describe what you believe is wrong and why you believe it is a mistake.
You must contact us:
• Within 60 days after the error appeared on your statement.
• At least 3 business days before an automated payment is scheduled, if you want to stop payment on the amount you think is wrong.
You must notify us of any potential errors in writing. You may call us, but if you do we are not required to investigate any potential errors and you may have to pay the amount in question.
What Will Happen After We Receive Your Letter
When we receive your letter, we must do two things:
1. Within 30 days of receiving your letter, we must tell you that we received your letter. We will also tell you if we have already corrected the error.
2. Within 90 days of receiving your letter, we must either correct the error or explain to you why we believe the bill is correct.
While we investigate whether or not there has been an error:
• We cannot try to collect the amount in question, or report you as delinquent on that amount.
• The charge in question may remain on your statement, and we may continue to charge you interest on that amount.
• While you do not have to pay the amount in question, you are responsible for the remainder of your balance.
• We can apply any unpaid amount against your credit limit.
After we finish our investigation, one of two things will happen:
• If we made a mistake: You will not have to pay the amount in question or any interest or other fees related to that amount.
• If we do not believe there was a mistake: You will have to pay the amount in question, along with applicable interest and fees. We will send you a statement of the amount you owe and the date pay-ment is due. We may then report you as delinquent if you do not pay the amount we think you owe.
If you receive our explanation but still believe your bill is wrong, you must write to us within 10 days telling us that you still refuse to pay. If you do so, we cannot report you as delinquent without also reporting that you are questioning your bill. We must tell you the name of anyone to whom we reported you as delinquent, and we must let those organizations know when the matter has been settled between us.
If we do not follow all of the rules above, you do not have to pay the first $50 of the amount you question even if your bill is correct.
Your Rights If You Are Dissatisfied With Your Credit Card Purchases
If you are dissatisfied with the goods or services that you have purchased with your credit card, and you have tried in good faith to correct the problem with the merchant, you may have the right not to pay the remaining amount due on the purchase.
To use this right, all of the following must be true:
1. The purchase must have been made in your home state or within 100 miles of your current mailing address, and the purchase price must have been more than $50. (Note: Neither of these are necessary if your purchase was based on an advertisement we mailed to you, or if we own the company that sold you the goods or services.)
2. You must have used your credit card for the purchase. Purchases made with cash advances from an ATM or with a check that accesses your credit card account do not qualify.
3. You must not yet have fully paid for the purchase.
If all of the criteria above are met and you are still dissatisfied with the purchase, contact us in writing at the address shown on your monthly billing statement.
