Company: ASB
Filing Date: 2025-02-12
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000007789-25-000013
Chunk: 176

Company: ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Filing Date: 2025-02-12
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 176
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, and local laws and regulations, industry standards and other requirements relating to consumer privacy and data protection. For more information, see “Privacy, Data Protection, and Cybersecurity” in the Item 1, Business section above. 

Many other states are currently reviewing or proposing the need for greater regulation of the collection, sharing, use and other processing of information related to individuals for marketing purposes or otherwise, and there remains interest in expanding personal information protection requirements at the federal level as well. Both to comply with applicable existing law and to prepare for potential expansions in laws requiring such protection, we must maintain adequate privacy and security measures, which require significant investments in resources and ongoing attention.

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Additionally, laws, regulations, and standards covering marketing, advertising, and other activities conducted by telephone, email, mobile devices, and the internet are or may become applicable to our business, such as the TCPA, the CAN-SPAM Act, and similar state consumer protection and communication privacy laws, such as California’s Invasion of Privacy Act. 

We occasionally make telephone calls and/or send SMS text messages to customers. The actual or perceived improper calling of customer phones and/or sending of text messages may subject us to potential risks, including liabilities or claims relating to consumer protection laws such as the TCPA. Numerous class-action suits under federal and state laws have been filed in recent years against companies who conduct telemarketing and/or SMS texting programs, and any future such litigation against us could be costly and time-consuming to defend. In particular, the TCPA imposes significant restrictions on the ability to make telephone calls or send text messages to mobile telephone numbers without the prior consent of the person being contacted.  Federal or state regulatory authorities or private litigants may claim that the notices and disclosures we provide, form of consents we obtain or our outreach practices are not adequate or violate applicable law. This may in the future result in civil claims against us. Claims that we have violated the TCPA could be costly to litigate, whether or not they have merit, and could expose us to substantial statutory damages or costly settlements.

We also send marketing messages via email and are subject to the CAN-SPAM Act. The CAN-SPAM Act imposes certain obligations regarding the content of emails and providing opt-outs (with the corresponding requirement to honor such opt-outs promptly).  While we strive to ensure that all of our marketing communications comply with the requirements set forth in the CAN-SPAM Act, any violations could result in the FTC seeking civil penalties against us.

Moreover, we