privacy notice

Committed to your protection

At Independent Bank, we are committed to safeguarding your privacy.

While the information we collect is critical to providing you with superior products and services, be assured that we are dedicated to maintaining the confidentiality of your personal information. Unlike other organizations, we do not sell the information you have entrusted to us. To help you understand how we protect your personal information, this notice describes our current privacy policy and practices. We will advise you of our privacy policy and practices at least once annually, as required by law.

This privacy notice applies to individuals, unless the individual is conducting a business transaction. This privacy notice does not apply to businesses. We reserve the right to make changes to this notice. The notice is for general guidance and does not constitute a contract, nor does it modify or amend any agreements we have with you.

This privacy notice applies to Independent Bank and its affiliates, which include Independent Mortgage Company; Independent Title Services, Inc.; Independent Financial and Insurance Services, Inc.; Mepco Finance Corporation; Mepco Acceptance Corporation; and other companies that may become affiliated with Independent Bank in the future.

Information we collect about you

We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:
  • Information we receive from you on applications or otherwise.
  • Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates or others.
  • Information we receive from a consumer-reporting agency.

No disclosures to non-affiliates outside of exceptions

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our customers or former customers to any person that is not affiliated with Independent Bank, except as permitted by law. Exceptions permitted by law include disclosures to:

  • Companies that perform services for us in connection with your account (e.g., data processing and collection agencies).
  • Non-financial companies such as credit reporting agencies and marketing companies that provide marketing services for us (e.g., direct mailing, bulk mailing, and market research).
  • Government entities as a requirement of law or in response to subpoenas, court orders, legal process, government agency examination or investigation, or in conjunction with fraud, security or risk control.
  • Yourself or others with your consent or at your direction, which may be oral, in writing, by phone, electronic or by other means we recognize.

Your right to limit marketing by our affiliates

Independent Bank and its affiliates are providing this notice regarding your ability to limit some but not all marketing from Independent Bank and its affiliates.

You may limit Independent Bank and its affiliates from marketing their products or services to you based on your personal information that they receive from each other. This information includes, but is not limited to:

  • Your account history.
  • Other information regarding your transactions and relationships with Independent Bank or its affiliates.

Your choice to limit marketing offers from Independent Bank and its affiliates will apply for five years from when you tell us your choice. Once that period expires, you will receive a renewal notice that will allow you to continue to limit marketing offers from Independent Bank and its affiliates for an additional five years. If you have already made a choice to limit marketing offers from Independent Bank and its affiliates, you do not need to act again until you receive the renewal notice.

If you and one or more other persons have a joint relationship with Independent Bank or any of its affiliates, any member of the relationship is permitted to choose to limit marketing offers, and such choice will be effective for all those in the joint relationship.

To limit marketing offers, please contact us by one of the following methods:

  • By telephone: 1.800.355.0641
  • TDD/TTY: 800.575.5534 (Deaf & Hearing Impaired Customers) Representatives are available 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday.
  • Via our Web site: Contact Us form

Even if you choose to limit marketing by us, please be aware that you may still be contacted as needed to service your account and for other non-marketing reasons. In addition, you may still receive marketing information printed on your account statement or enclosed as a “statement stuffer.” In addition, you may receive marketing solicitations while we process your election to limit marketing offers.

Confidentiality and security

We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you.

We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your nonpublic personal information. We are committed to our relationship and want you to understand the steps we have taken to protect your personal information. If you have questions, contact any Independent Bank office or send us an email.

Accuracy of customer information

We recognize that the accuracy of your personal information is critical and we follow procedures to reasonably ensure the accuracy of your information. If you find that information we have on file or have reported to another party does not appear to be accurate, write to us at: Independent Bank Corporation, Privacy Manager, 230 W. Main, Ionia, MI 48846. Please include your account or policy number and bank office location.

Web site privacy

Safeguarding personal information when interacting with us via the Internet is also important. When browsing our Web site, personal information (such as your email address) is not collected by Independent Bank or its affiliates. Some areas of our Web site require information, such as your email address or your account number, to enable you to perform certain tasks (e.g., to review your accounts or correspond with us). In these cases, we collect the information necessary to interact with you. If you visit us on the Internet, we may place a “cookie” on your browser that records the number of visits made to various Web pages; however, personal information is not collected.