The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act privacy provisions, which became effective November 13, 2000, establish federal rules governing financial institutions' disclosure of personal financial information about their customers and other consumers. It proclaims a federal privacy policy that each institution "has an affirmative and continuing obligation to respect the privacy of its customers and to protect the security and confidentiality" of customers' non-public personal information. Compliance becomes mandatory on July 1, 2001.

The Act requires each financial institution to adopt a policy regarding the privacy of consumers' nonpublic personal information. Accountants and other tax preparers are considered "financial institutions" under the Act if they prepare returns for individuals. Annual notice to clients is required.

The provisions of the Act do not apply to services provided for business entities, organizations or persons whose financial transactions have a business purpose.

Important Information for Your Privacy

We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources: Information we receive from you on applications, tax preparation worksheets, other documents we use in preparing your tax return, and other forms;

Information about your transactions with us or others;

Information we receive from government agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service, state Departments of Revenue, Labor and Unemployment, and

Information we receive from other professionals with whom you have relationships, such as other accountants, attorneys, insurance, real estate and financial brokers.

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about you to anyone, except as permitted by law.

Effective immediately, advanced, WRITTEN permission must be in file before we can release any information to professionals such as those described above.

If you decide to close your account(s) or become an inactive client, we will adhere to the privacy policies and practices as described in this notice.

We restrict access to your personal and account information 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 information.

Your confidence in us is important and we want you to know that your personal and account information is safe. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.