LEGAL INFORMATION

INTERNET CHARTER: processing of personal data

General Bank policy

The Bank is aware of the importance of keeping strictly confidential all information supplied to it online, regarding its own clients or with respect to Internet users visiting its website.

The Bank urges the user to read this Charter in its entirety regarding the respect of privacy (hereinafter “the Charter”) so as to be informed as to how the Bank collects, uses and protects personal information that the user provides via its website or that can be accessed there by the rightful owners.

Registration of personal data

The Bank may use cookies on its website in order to offer users a personal welcome, taking account of their visiting habits, and to carry out a follow-up regarding their personal data. A cookie is a small file, usually made up of letters and numbers, placed by the browser and stored on your computer or digital device when you visit a website. Cookies can be used, for example, to keep your session active or to make your browsing easier. This way, when you connect to the website using the same device, the browser will be able to recognize your preferences. Cookies also allow the Bank to provide preventive security for its website and for the users' data (particularly by means of information relating to the server to which their computer is connected).

The Bank stores certain information regarding the hardware of the user's website (browser used, the hardware's operating system, etc) as well as visitors' IP addresses (the IP address consists of a series of numbers automatically assigned to your computer by your Internet service provider or your company's Internet server at the start of each Internet session). The Bank's aim in collecting this data is to be able to gather information on the use of the website and its performance.

The Bank undertakes to advise Internet users of any change in its practices by means of an update of this Charter. They should consult it regularly.

Other personal data is collected online expressly when users register in order to have access to certain Bank services, particularly to certain protected areas on the website to which access is limited to Internet users fulfilling the prescribed conditions. Registration gives the Bank the opportunity to collect basic information such as, notably, first name, surname, postal address, e-mail address, and telephone, fax and mobile numbers.

The Bank also reserves the right to save surnames, first names, e-mail addresses and the contents of correspondence of all those sending e-mails to a Bank employee or to the website manager, in order to be able to reply to them or inform them of the progress of their request.

The information required by the Bank at the time of online registration for a specific Bank service is limited to the information necessary for the Bank to provide the best service and follow-up possible. Information that is required is clearly indicated by an asterisk (*) at the beginning of the name of the field to be filled in.

Use of personal data

The Bank's objective in collecting personal data is to be able to offer personalised access to its website to its clients and Internet users who wish to benefit from some of its online services.

If users expressly so wish, the Bank will use their e-mail addresses to keep them informed of new offers or send information which might be of interest to them. Users may, however, terminate these e-mails at any time, by clicking in a field inserted into each of these messages: the step-by-step procedure for withdrawal from the subscriber list will then be given.

Distribution of personal data – confidentiality

The Bank does not communicate personal data in its possession to its subsidiaries nor to any other third parties, for any reason or in any form whatsoever. Nonetheless, the Bank reserves the right to draw up statistics on the basis of this non-banking data, and to make the results publicly available; in this case, the data will be presented in a strictly anonymous and compiled form, which will not allow the specific persons concerned to be identified.

Possible data transmission abroad

Your personal data is stored and processed in Switzerland but may also be stored and used in other countries (it being understood that some of these locations potentially include countries that do not necessarily guarantee the same level of data protection as the country from which the user provided the data). By submitting data to us, the user specifically agrees to this transfer and the ongoing consequences.

Right of access and correction

In compliance with the Federal Law of 19 June 1992 on data protection, all interested parties may, by sending a written and signed request to the Bank, request that they be sent by post all the data that concerns them; if this data is no longer up-to-date or is found to be inaccurate, or incomplete, the person concerned may ask the Bank to amend the data concerning them accordingly. They may equally at any time request that the data be deleted, subject to other legal obligations.

Disclaimer clause

The Bank accepts no responsibility in the event of users' failing to observe general security advice (such as installing anti-virus software and regularly updating it, etc..). Failure to observe these rules may engage the responsibility of users vis-à-vis the Bank and its clients if their attitude leads to a breach in the security measures put in place on the Bank's website.

The Bank is not responsible for inaccuracies concerning personal data if these errors are due to incorrect information being supplied by users. In the case of inaccuracy for other reasons, the Bank's responsibility is limited exclusively to allowing users the right to access and to correct personal data, such as described in “Right of access and correction”.

The updating of personal data on the Bank's system is the responsibility of users. They are expected to take the initiative in providing information regarding any change of address or telephone number if they wish to benefit from the services for which they are registered.

Although it makes every effort to protect personal data, the Bank is not responsible for the security of personal data transmitted to it over the Internet, to the extent that it is not possible to totally guarantee security of Internet transmissions. This data is transmitted at the users' risk. On the other hand, the Bank takes all steps to ensure that data is confidential from the moment it has entered its system.

Except in cases of fraud or gross negligence, the Bank cannot be held responsible for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential damages, including, but not limited to, damages for lost profits, loss of goodwill, use, data or other intangible losses (even if the Bank has been advised of the possibility of such damages) resulting from access to the website; the download or upload of any content on its website; the use or inability to use it; or it's unavailability; the cost of purchasing goods and replacement services resulting from any goods, data, information or services purchased or obtained or messages received or transactions concluded through the website or from the website; unauthorised access to data transmissions, their alteration, loss or destruction; statements or conduct of any third party on the website ; the results of the site, any site connected to it, and all documents available on these; or any other matter relating to the website.

The user agrees that regardless of any statute or law to the contrary, any claim or grounds for action resulting from or related to use of the website must be filed within the period of one (1) year after the claim or cause of action arises.

Applicable law and place of jurisdiction

The law applicable to the current Charter is Swiss law excluding the conflict of law rules.
The place of jurisdiction for all disputes relating to the website or its use is Geneva.

Contact address

For all information regarding this website, please send an e-mail by clicking here.
If you wish to exercise your right to access and correct the personal data that concerns you, please send a written and signed request to the following address:
Banque Cantonale de Genève
P.O. Box 2251
CH-1211 Geneva 2

By clearly stating that your request concerns the exercise of your right of access to your personal data.