Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Introduction

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Background and Overview

Title V, Subtitle A of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLBA”)1 governs the treatment of 

nonpublic personal information about consumers by financial institutions. Section 502 of 

the Subtitle, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a financial institution from disclosing 

nonpublic personal information about a consumer to nonaffiliated third parties, unless (i) 

the institution satisfies various notice and opt-out requirements, and (ii) the consumer has 

not elected to opt out of the disclosure. Section 503 requires the institution to provide 

notice of its privacy policies and practices to its customers. Section 504 authorizes the 

issuance of regulations to implement these provisions.

In 2000, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Board”), the Federal 

Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the National Credit Union Administration 

(“NCUA”), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), and the former 

Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”), published regulations implementing provisions of 

the GLBA governing the treatment of nonpublic personal information about consumers 

by financial institutions.

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Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 

(“Dodd-Frank Act”)3 granted rulemaking authority for most provisions of Subtitle A of 

Title V of the GLBA to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) with 

respect to financial institutions and other entities subject to the CFPB’s jurisdiction, 

except securities and futures-related companies and certain motor vehicle dealers. The 

Dodd-Frank Act also granted authority to the CFPB to examine and enforce compliance 

with these statutory provisions and their implementing regulations with respect to 

entities under CFPB jurisdiction.

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 In December 2011 the CFPB recodified in 

Regulation P, 12 CFR Part 1016, the implementing regulations that were previously 

issued by the Board, the FDIC, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the NCUA, the 

OCC, and the former OTS.5

The regulation establishes rules governing duties of a financial institution to provide 

particular notices and limitations on its disclosure of nonpublic personal information, as 

summarized below.

 1 15 U.S.C. §§6801-6809. 2 The NCUA published its final rule in the Federal Register on May 18, 2000 (65 FR 31722). The Board, 

the FDIC, the OCC, and the former OTS jointly published their final rules on June 1, 2000 (65 FR 35162). 3 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-203, Title X, 124 

Stat. 1983 (2010).

4 Dodd-Frank Act §§1002(12)(J), 1024(b)-(c), and 1025(b)-(c); 12 U.S.C. §§5481(12)(J), 5514(b)-(c), and 

5515(b)-(c). Section 1002(12)(J) of the Dodd-Frank Act, however, excluded financial institutions’

information security safeguards under GLBA section 501(b) from the CFPB’s rulemaking, examination, 

and enforcement authority. 

5 76 FR 79025 (Dec. 21, 2011). Pursuant to GLBA, the FTC retains rulemaking authority over any 

financial institution that is a person described in 12 U.S.C. §5519 (with certain statutory exceptions, the 

FTC generally retains rulemaking authority for motor vehicle dealers predominantly engaged in the sale 

and servicing of motor vehicles, the leasing and servicing of motor vehicles, or both).
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 A financial institution must provide notice of its privacy policies and practices, and 

allow the consumer to opt out of the disclosure of the consumer’s nonpublic personal 

information to a nonaffiliated third party if the disclosure is outside of the exceptions 

in sections 13, 14, or 15 of the regulation. If the financial institution provides the 

consumer’s nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party under the 

exception in section 13, it must provide notice of its privacy policies and practices to 

the consumer. Under the exception in section 13, the financial institution must also 

enter into a contractual agreement with the third party that prohibits the third party 

from disclosing or using the information other than to perform services for the 

institution or functions on the institution’s behalf, including use under an exception in 

sections 14 or 15 in the ordinary course of business to carry out those services or 

functions. If the financial institution complies with these requirements, it is not 

required to provide an opt out notice.

 Regardless of whether a financial institution shares nonpublic personal information, 

the institution must provide notice of its privacy policies and practices to its 

customers.

 A financial institution generally may not disclose consumer account numbers to any 

nonaffiliated third party for marketing purposes.

 A financial institution must follow redisclosure and reuse limitations on any 

nonpublic personal information it receives from a nonaffiliated financial institution.

In general, the privacy notice must describe a financial institution’s policies and practices 

with respect to collecting and disclosing nonpublic personal information about a 

consumer to both affiliated and nonaffiliated third parties. Also, the notice must provide 

a consumer a reasonable opportunity to direct the institution generally not to share 

nonpublic personal information about the consumer (that is, to “opt out”) with 

nonaffiliated third parties other than as permitted by exceptions under the regulation (for 

example, sharing for everyday business purposes, such as processing transactions and 

maintaining customers’ accounts, and in response to properly executed governmental 

requests). The privacy notice must also provide, where applicable under the Fair Credit 

Reporting Act (“FCRA”), a notice and an opportunity for a consumer to opt out of certain 

information sharing among affiliates.

Section 728 of the Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act of 2006 required the four 

federal banking agencies (the Board, the FDIC, the OCC, and the former OTS) and four 

additional federal regulatory agencies (the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

(“CFTC”), the FTC, the NCUA, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”))

to develop a model privacy form that financial institutions may rely on as a safe harbor to 

provide disclosures under the privacy rules. 

On December 1, 2009, the eight federal agencies jointly released a voluntary model 

privacy form designed to make it easier for consumers to understand how financial 
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institutions collect and share nonpublic personal information.6 The final rule adopting 

the model privacy form was effective on December 31, 2009.

On October 28, 2014, the CFPB published a final rule amending the requirements 

regarding financial institutions’ provision of their annual disclosures of privacy policies 

and practices to customers by creating an alternative delivery method that financial 

institutions can use under certain circumstances.7

 The amendment was effective 

immediately upon publication. The alternative delivery method allows a financial 

institution to provide an annual privacy notice by posting the annual notice on its web 

site, if the financial institution meets certain conditions. 

Definitions and Key Concepts

In discussing the duties and limitations imposed by the regulation, a number of key 

concepts are used. These concepts include “financial institution”; “nonpublic personal 

information”; “nonaffiliated third party”; the “opt out” right and the exceptions to that 

right; and “consumer” and “customer.” Each concept is briefly discussed below. A more 

complete explanation of each appears in the regulation.

Financial Institution:

A “financial institution” is any institution the business of which is engaging in 

activities that are financial in nature or incidental to such financial activities, as 

determined by section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. Financial 

institutions can include banks, securities brokers and dealers, insurance 

underwriters and agents, finance companies, mortgage bankers, and travel 

agents.8 

Nonpublic Personal Information:

“Nonpublic personal information” generally is any information that is not publicly 

available and that: 

• a consumer provides to a financial institution to obtain a financial product 

or service from the institution; 

• results from a transaction between the consumer and the institution 

involving a financial product or service; or 

 6 74 FR 62890. 7 79 FR 64057.

8 Certain functionally regulated subsidiaries, such as brokers, dealers, and investment advisers, are subject 

to GLBA implementing regulations issued by the SEC. Other functionally regulated subsidiaries, such as 

futures commission merchants, commodity trading advisors, commodity pool operators, and introducing 

brokers in commodities, are subject to GLBA implementing regulations issued by the CFTC. Insurance 

entities may be subject to privacy regulations issued by their respective state insurance authorities.
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• a financial institution otherwise obtains about a consumer in connection 

with providing a financial product or service.

Information is publicly available if an institution has a reasonable basis to believe 

that the information is lawfully made available to the general public from 

government records, widely distributed media, or legally required disclosures to 

the general public. Examples include information in a telephone book or a 

publicly recorded document, such as a mortgage or security interest filing. 

Nonpublic personal information may include individual items of information, as 

well as lists of information. For example, nonpublic personal information may 

include names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, income, credit 

score, and information obtained through Internet collection devices (i.e., cookies). 

There are special rules regarding lists. Publicly available information would be 

treated as nonpublic if it were included on a list of consumers derived from 

nonpublic personal information. For example, a list of the names and addresses 

of a financial institution’s depositors would be nonpublic personal information 

even though the same names and addresses might be published in local telephone 

directories, because the list is derived from the fact that a person has a deposit 

account with an institution, which is not publicly available information.

However, if the financial institution has a reasonable basis to believe that certain 

customer relationships are a matter of public record, then any list of these 

relationships would be considered publicly available information. For instance, a 

list of mortgage customers from public mortgage records would be considered 

publicly available information. The institution could provide a list of such 

customers, and include on that list any other publicly available information it has 

about those customers without having to provide notice or opt out.

Nonaffiliated Third Party:

A “nonaffiliated third party” is any person except a financial institution’s affiliate 

or a person employed jointly by a financial institution and a company that is not 

the institution’s affiliate. An “affiliate” of a financial institution is any company 

that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the financial 

institution.

Opt Out Right and Exceptions:

The Right

Consumers must be given the right to “opt out” of, or prevent, a financial 

institution from disclosing nonpublic personal information about them to a 

nonaffiliated third party unless an exception to that right applies. The exceptions 

are detailed in sections 13, 14, and 15 of the regulation and described below.
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As part of the opt out right, consumers must be given a reasonable opportunity 

and a reasonable means to opt out. What constitutes a reasonable opportunity to 

opt out depends on the circumstances surrounding the consumer’s transaction, but 

a consumer must be provided a reasonable amount of time to exercise the opt out 

right. For example, it would be reasonable if the financial institution allows 30 

days from the date of mailing a notice or 30 days after customer 

acknowledgement of an electronic notice for an opt out direction to be returned. 

What constitutes a reasonable means to opt out may include check-off boxes, a 

reply form, or a toll-free telephone number. It is not reasonable to require a 

consumer to write his or her own letter as the only means to opt out.

The Exceptions

Exceptions to the opt out right are detailed in sections 13, 14, and 15 of the 

regulation. Financial institutions need not comply with opt-out requirements if 

they limit disclosure of nonpublic personal information:

Section 13:

• To a nonaffiliated third party to perform services for the financial institution 

or to function on its behalf, including marketing the institution’s own products 

or services or those offered jointly by the institution and another financial 

institution. The exception is permitted only if the financial institution 

provides an initial notice of these arrangements and by contract prohibits the 

third party from disclosing or using the information for other than the 

specified purposes. However, if the service or function is covered by the 

exceptions in section 14 or 15 (discussed below), the financial institution does 

not have to comply with the disclosure and confidentiality requirements of 

section 13.

Section 14:

• As necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction that a consumer 

requests or authorizes, or under certain other circumstances relating to 

existing relationships with customers. Disclosures under this exception could 

be in connection with the audit of credit information, administration of a 

rewards program, or provision of an account statement.

Section 15:

• For specified other disclosures that a financial institution normally makes, 

such as to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud; to the financial 

institution’s attorneys, accountants, and auditors; or to comply with applicable 

legal requirements, such as the disclosure of information to regulators. 
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Consumer and Customer:

The distinction between consumers and customers is significant because financial 

institutions have additional disclosure duties with respect to customers. Under the 

regulation, all customers are consumers, but not all consumers are customers. 

A “consumer” is an individual, or that individual’s legal representative, who 

obtains or has obtained a financial product or service from a financial institution 

that is to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. 

A “financial service” includes, among other things, a financial institution’s 

evaluation or brokerage of information that the institution collects in connection 

with a request or an application from a consumer for a financial product or 

service. For example, a financial service includes a lender’s evaluation of an 

application for a consumer loan or for opening a deposit account even if the 

application is ultimately rejected or withdrawn.

Consumers who are not customers are entitled to an initial privacy and opt out 

notice before the financial institution shares nonpublic personal information with 

nonaffiliated third parties outside of the exceptions in sections 13, 14, and 15. 

Consumers who are not customers are entitled to an initial privacy notice before 

the financial institution shares nonpublic personal information with a nonaffiliated 

third party under the exception in section 13. Under the exception in section 13, 

the financial institution must also enter into a contractual agreement with the third 

party that prohibits the third party from disclosing or using the information other 

than to perform services for the institution or functions on the institution’s behalf, 

including use under an exception in sections 14 or 15 in the ordinary course of 

business to carry out those services or functions. If a financial institution 

complies with these requirements, it is not required to provide an opt out notice.

A “customer” is a consumer who has a “customer relationship” with a financial 

institution. A “customer relationship” is a continuing relationship between a 

consumer and a financial institution under which the institution provides one or 

more financial products or services to the consumer that are to be used primarily 

for personal, family, or household purposes.

• For example, a customer relationship may be established when a consumer 

engages in one of the following activities with a financial institution:

o maintains a deposit or investment account;

o obtains a loan;

o enters into a lease of personal property; or

o obtains financial, investment, or economic advisory services for a fee.
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Customers are entitled to initial and annual privacy notices regardless of the 

information disclosure practices of their financial institution.

There is a special rule for loans. When a financial institution sells the servicing 

rights to a loan to another financial institution, the customer relationship transfers 

with the servicing rights. However, any information on the borrower retained by 

the institution that sells the servicing rights must be accorded the protections due 

any consumer. 

• Note that isolated transactions alone will not cause a consumer to be treated as

a customer. For example, if an individual purchases a bank check from a 

financial institution where the person has no account, the individual will be a 

consumer but not a customer of that institution because he or she has not 

established a customer relationship. Likewise, if an individual uses the ATM 

of a financial institution where the individual has no account, even repeatedly, 

the individual will be a consumer, but not a customer of that institution.

Financial Institution Duties

The regulation establishes specific duties and limitations for a financial institution based 

on its activities. Financial institutions that intend to disclose nonpublic personal 

information outside the exceptions in sections 13, 14, and 15 will have to provide opt out 

rights to their customers and to consumers who are not customers. All financial 

institutions have an obligation to provide an initial and annual notice of their privacy 

policies and practices to their customers and to provide an initial notice to consumers 

who are not customers before disclosing nonpublic personal information to a 

nonaffiliated third party other than under sections 14 and 15. All financial institutions 

must abide by the regulatory limits on the disclosure of account numbers to nonaffiliated 

third parties and on the redisclosure and reuse of nonpublic personal information received 

from nonaffiliated financial institutions.

A brief summary of financial institution duties and limitations appears below. A more 

complete explanation of each appears in the regulation.

Notice and Opt Out Duties to Consumers:

Before a financial institution discloses nonpublic personal information about any 

of its consumers to a nonaffiliated third party, and an exception in section 14 or 

15 does not apply, then the financial institution must provide to the consumer:

• an initial notice of its privacy policies and practices; 

• an opt out notice (including, among other things, a reasonable means to opt 

out); and
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• a reasonable opportunity, before the financial institution discloses the 

information to the nonaffiliated third party, to opt out. 

Before a financial institution discloses nonpublic personal information about a

consumer to a nonaffiliated third party under the exception in section 13, the 

financial institution must provide to the consumer an initial notice of its privacy 

policies and practices. Under the exception in section 13, the financial institution 

must also enter into a contractual agreement with the third party that prohibits the 

third party from disclosing or using the information other than to perform services 

for the institution or functions on the institution’s behalf, including use under an 

exception in sections 14 or 15 in the ordinary course of business to carry out those 

services or functions. If a financial institution complies with these requirements, 

it is not required to provide an opt out notice.

The financial institution may not disclose any nonpublic personal information to 

nonaffiliated third parties except under the enumerated exceptions unless these 

notices have been provided and the consumer has not opted out (where 

applicable). Additionally, the institution must provide a revised notice before the 

financial institution begins to share a new category of nonpublic personal 

information or shares information with a new category of nonaffiliated third party 

in a manner that was not described in the previous notice.

Note that a financial institution need not comply with the initial and opt-out notice 

requirements for consumers who are not customers if the institution limits 

disclosure of nonpublic personal information to the exceptions in sections 14 and 

15. A financial institution that discloses nonpublic personal information about a 

consumer to a nonaffiliated third party under the exception in section 13 must 

provide an initial notice. Under the exception in section 13, the financial 

institution must also enter into a contractual agreement with the third party that 

prohibits the third party from disclosing or using the information other than to 

perform services for the institution or functions on the institution’s behalf, 

including use under an exception in sections 14 or 15 in the ordinary course of 

business to carry out those services or functions. If these requirements are met, 

the financial institution is not required to provide an opt out notice.

Notice Duties to Customers:

In addition to the duties described above, there are several duties unique to 

customers. In particular, regardless of whether the institution discloses or intends 

to disclose nonpublic personal information, a financial institution must provide 

notice to its customers of its privacy policies and practices at various times.

• A financial institution must provide an initial notice of its privacy policies and 

practices to each customer, not later than the time a customer relationship is 

established. Section 4(e) of the regulation describes the exceptional cases in 
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which delivery of the notice is allowed subsequent to the establishment of the 

customer relationship.

• A financial institution must provide an annual notice at least once in any 

period of 12 consecutive months during the continuation of the customer 

relationship. 

• Generally, new privacy notices are not required for each new product or 

service. However, a financial institution must provide a new notice to an 

existing customer when the customer obtains a new financial product or 

service from the institution, if the initial or annual notice most recently 

provided to the customer was not accurate with respect to the new financial 

product or service. 

• When a financial institution does not disclose nonpublic personal information 

(other than as permitted under section 14 and section 15 exceptions) and does 

not reserve the right to do so, the institution has the option of providing a 

simplified notice. 

Requirements for Notices

Clear and Conspicuous. Privacy notices must be clear and conspicuous, meaning 

they must be reasonably understandable and designed to call attention to the 

nature and significance of the information contained in the notice. The regulation 

does not prescribe specific methods for making a notice clear and conspicuous, 

but does provide examples of ways in which to achieve the standard, such as the 

use of short explanatory sentences or bullet lists, and the use of plain-language 

headings and easily readable typeface and type size. Privacy notices also must 

accurately reflect the institution’s privacy practices.

Delivery Rules. Privacy notices must be provided so that each recipient can

reasonably be expected to receive actual notice in writing, or if the consumer 

agrees, electronically. To meet this standard, a financial institution could, for 

example, (1) hand-deliver a printed copy of the notice to its consumers, (2) mail a 

printed copy of the notice to a consumer’s last known address, or (3) for the 

consumer who conducts transactions electronically, post the notice on the 

institution’s web site and require the consumer to acknowledge receipt of the 

notice as a necessary step to completing the transaction.

For customers only, a financial institution must provide the initial notice (as well 

as the annual notice and any revised notice) so that a customer can retain or 

subsequently access the notice. A written notice satisfies this requirement. For 

customers who obtain financial products or services electronically, and agree to 

receive their notices on the institution’s web site, the institution may provide the 

current version of its privacy notice on its web site.
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A financial institution may use an alternative delivery method for providing 

annual privacy notices to customers through posting the annual notices on their 

web sites if: (1) no opt out rights are triggered by the financial institution’s 

information sharing practices under GLBA or under FCRA section 603, and opt

out notices required by FCRA section 624 and Subpart C of Regulation V have 

previously been provided, if applicable, or the annual privacy notice is not the 

only notice provided to satisfy those requirements; (2) certain information 

included in the annual privacy notice has not changed since the previous notice;

and (3) the financial institution uses the model form provided in the regulation as 

its annual privacy notice. In order to use this alternative delivery method, an 

institution must: (1) insert a clear and conspicuous statement at least once per year 

on an account statement, coupon book, or a notice or disclosure the institution 

issues under any provision of law that informs customers that the annual privacy 

notice is available on the institution’s web site, that the institution will mail the 

notice to customers who request it by calling a specific telephone number, and 

that the notice has not changed; (2) continuously post the current privacy notice in 

a clear and conspicuous manner on a page on its web site, on which the only 

content is the privacy notice, without requiring the customer to provide any 

information such as a login name or password or agree to any conditions to access 

the web site; and (3) mail its current privacy notice to those customers who 

request it by telephone within ten calendar days of the request.

Notice Content. A privacy notice must contain specific disclosures. However, a 

financial institution may provide to consumers who are not also customers a 

“short form” initial notice together with an opt out notice stating that the 

institution’s privacy notice is available upon request and explaining a reasonable 

means for the consumer to obtain it. The following is a list of disclosures 

regarding nonpublic personal information that institutions must provide in their 

privacy notices, as applicable:

1. categories of information collected;

2. categories of information disclosed;

3. categories of affiliates and nonaffiliated third parties to whom the institution 

may disclose information;

4. policies and practices with respect to the treatment of former customers’ 

information;

5. categories of information disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties that perform 

services for the institution or functions on the institution’s behalf and 

categories of third parties with whom the institution has contracted (Section 

13);

6. an explanation of the opt out right and methods for opting out;
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7. any opt out notices that the institution must provide under the FCRA with 

respect to affiliate information sharing;

8. policies and practices for protecting the security and confidentiality of 

information; and

9. a statement that the institution makes disclosures to other nonaffiliated third 

parties for everyday business purposes or as permitted by law (Sections 14 

and 15).

Model Privacy Form. The Appendix to the regulation contains the model privacy 

form. A financial institution can use the model form to obtain a “safe harbor” for 

compliance with the content requirements for notifying consumers of its 

information-sharing practices and their right to opt out of certain sharing 

practices. To obtain the safe harbor, the institution must provide a model form in 

accordance with the instructions set forth in the Appendix of the regulation. 

Additionally, institutions using the alternative delivery method for providing 

annual privacy notices to customers must use the model form.

Limitations on Disclosure of Account Numbers (section 12):

A financial institution must not disclose an account number or similar form of 

access number or access code for a credit card, deposit, or transaction account to 

any nonaffiliated third party (other than a consumer reporting agency) for use in 

telemarketing, direct mail marketing, or other marketing through electronic mail 

to the consumer. 

The disclosure of encrypted account numbers without an accompanying means of 

decryption, however, is not subject to this prohibition. The regulation also 

expressly allows disclosures by a financial institution to its agent to market the 

institution’s own products or services (although the financial institution must not 

authorize the agent to directly initiate charges to the customer’s account). The 

regulation also does not bar a financial institution from disclosing account 

numbers to participants in private-label or affinity card programs, if the 

participants are identified to the customer when the customer enters the program.

Redisclosure and Reuse Limitations on Nonpublic Personal Information 

Received (section 11):

If a financial institution receives nonpublic personal information from a 

nonaffiliated financial institution, its disclosure and use of the information is 

limited.

• For nonpublic personal information received under a section 14 or 15 

exception, the financial institution is limited to: 
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o Disclosing the information to the affiliates of the financial institution from 

which it received the information;

o Disclosing the information to its own affiliates, who may, in turn, disclose 

and use the information only to the extent that the financial institution can 

do so; and

o Disclosing and using the information pursuant to a section 14 or 15 

exception (for example, an institution receiving information for account 

processing could disclose the information to its auditors). 

• For nonpublic personal information received other than under a section 14 or 

15 exception, the recipient’s use of the information is unlimited, but its 

disclosure of the information is limited to:

o Disclosing the information to the affiliates of the financial institution from 

which it received the information;

o Disclosing the information to its own affiliates, who may, in turn disclose 

the information only to the extent that the financial institution can do so; 

and 

o Disclosing the information to any other person, if the disclosure would be 

lawful if made directly to that person by the financial institution from 

which it received the information. For example, an institution that 

received a customer list from another financial institution could disclose 

the list in accordance with the privacy policy of the financial institution 

that provided the list subject to any opt out election or revocation by the 

consumers on the list and in accordance with appropriate exceptions under 

sections 14 and 15. 

Other Matters

Fair Credit Reporting Act

The regulation does not modify, limit, or supersede the operation of the FCRA.

State Law

The regulation does not supersede, alter, or affect any state statute, regulation, 

order, or interpretation, except to the extent that it is inconsistent with the 

regulation. A state statute, regulation, order, or interpretation is consistent with 

the regulation if the protection it affords any consumer is greater than the 

protection provided under the regulation, as determined by the CFPB, on its own 

motion or upon the petition of any interested party, after consultation with the 
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agency or authority with jurisdiction under section 505(a) of the GLBA over 

either the person who initiated the complaint or that is the subject of the 

complaint.

Guidelines Regarding Protecting Customer Information

The regulation requires a financial institution to disclose its policies and practices 

for protecting the confidentiality, security, and integrity of nonpublic personal 

information about consumers (whether or not they are customers). The disclosure 

need not describe these policies and practices in detail, but instead may describe 

in general terms who is authorized to have access to the information and whether 

the institution has security practices and procedures in place to ensure the 

confidentiality of the information in accordance with the institution’s policies.

The four federal banking agencies published guidelines, pursuant to section 

501(b) of the GLBA, that address steps a financial institution should take in order 

to protect customer information. The guidelines relate only to information about 

customers, rather than all consumers. Compliance examiners should consider the 

findings of a 501(b) inspection during the compliance examination of a financial 

institution for purposes of evaluating the accuracy of the institution’s disclosure 

regarding information security. 
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Examination Objectives

1. To assess the quality of a financial institution’s compliance management policies,

procedures, and internal controls for implementing the regulation, specifically 

ensuring consistency between what the financial institution tells consumers in its 

notices about its policies and practices and what it actually does. 

2. To determine the reliance that can be placed on a financial institution’s policies, 

procedures, and internal controls for monitoring the institution’s compliance with the 

regulation.

3. To determine a financial institution’s compliance with the regulation, specifically in 

meeting the following requirements:

• Providing to customers notices of its privacy policies and practices that are 

timely, accurate, clear and conspicuous, and delivered so that each customer can 

reasonably be expected to receive actual notice;

• Disclosing nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated third parties, other 

than under an exception, after first meeting the applicable requirements for giving 

consumers notice and the right to opt out;

• Appropriately honoring consumer opt out directions;

• Lawfully using or disclosing nonpublic personal information received from a 

nonaffiliated financial institution; and

• Disclosing account numbers only according to the limits in the regulation.

4. To initiate effective corrective actions when violations of law are identified, or when 

policies, procedures, or internal controls are deficient. 
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Examination Procedures

A. Through discussions with management and review of available information, identify 

the institution’s information sharing practices (and changes to those practices) with 

affiliates and nonaffiliated third parties; how it treats nonpublic personal information; 

and how it administers opt-outs. Consider the following as appropriate:

1. Notices (initial, annual, revised, opt out, short-form, and simplified);

2. Institutional privacy policies, procedures, and internal controls, including those to:

• process requests for nonpublic personal information, including requests for 

aggregated information; 

• deliver notices to consumers;

• manage consumer opt out directions (e.g., designating files, allowing a 

reasonable time to opt out, providing new opt out and privacy notices when 

necessary, receiving opt out directions, handling joint account holders);

• prevent the unlawful disclosure and use of the information received from 

nonaffiliated financial institutions; and

• prevent the unlawful disclosure of account numbers;

3. Information sharing agreements between the institution and affiliates and service 

agreements or contracts between the institution and nonaffiliated third parties 

either to obtain or provide information or services;

4. Complaint logs, telemarketing scripts, and any other information obtained from 

nonaffiliated third parties (Note: review telemarketing scripts to determine 

whether the contractual terms set forth under section 13 are met and whether the 

institution is disclosing account number information in violation of section 12); 

5. Categories of nonpublic personal information collected from or about consumers 

in obtaining a financial product or service (e.g., in the application process for

deposit, loan, or investment products; for an over-the-counter purchase of a bank 

check; from E-banking products or services, including information collected 

electronically through Internet cookies; or through ATM transactions);

6. Categories of nonpublic personal information shared with, or received from, each 

nonaffiliated third party; 

7. Consumer complaints regarding the treatment of nonpublic personal information, 

including those received electronically;

8. Records that reflect the bank’s categorization of its information sharing practices 

under Sections 13, 14, 15, and outside of these exceptions;
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9. Results of a 501(b) inspection (used to determine the accuracy of the institution’s 

privacy disclosures regarding information security).

B. Use the information gathered from step A to work through the “Privacy Notice and 

Opt Out Decision Tree” (Attachment A). Identify which module(s) of procedures is 

(are) applicable. 

C. Use the information gathered from step A to work through the Redisclosure and 

Reuse and Account Number Sharing Decision Trees, as necessary (Attachments B 

and C). Identify which module is applicable. 

D. Determine the adequacy of the financial institution’s policies, procedures, and 

internal controls to ensure compliance with the regulation as applicable. Consider the 

following: 

1. Sufficiency of internal policies, procedures, and internal controls, including 

review of new products and services and controls over servicing arrangements 

and marketing arrangements;

2. Effectiveness of management information systems, including the use of 

technology for monitoring, exception reports, and standardization of forms and 

procedures;

3. Frequency and effectiveness of monitoring procedures;

4. Adequacy and regularity of the institution’s training program;

5. Suitability of the compliance audit program for ensuring that:

• the procedures address all regulatory provisions as applicable;

• the work is accurate and comprehensive with respect to the institution’s 

information sharing practices;

• the frequency is appropriate;

• conclusions are appropriately reached and presented to responsible parties; 

• steps are taken to correct deficiencies and to follow-up on previously 

identified deficiencies; and

6. Knowledge level of management and personnel.

E. Ascertain areas of risk associated with the financial institution’s sharing practices 

(especially those within Section 13 and those that fall outside of the exceptions) and 

any weaknesses found within the compliance management program. Keep in mind 

any outstanding deficiencies identified in the audit for follow-up when completing the 

modules.
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Initial Procedures

17

F. Based on the results of the foregoing initial procedures and discussions with 

management, determine which procedures, if any, should be completed in the 

applicable module, focusing on areas of particular risk. The selection of procedures to 

be employed depends upon the adequacy of the institution’s compliance management 

system and level of risk identified. Each module contains a series of general 

instruction to verify compliance, cross-referenced to cites within the regulation. 

Additionally, there are cross-references to a more comprehensive checklist, which the 

examiner may use if needed to evaluate compliance in more detail. 

G. Evaluate any additional information or documentation discovered during the course 

of the examination according to these procedures. Note that this may reveal new or 

different sharing practices necessitating reapplication of the Decision Trees and 

completion of additional or different modules.

H. Formulate conclusions.

1. Summarize all findings.

2. For violation(s) noted, determine the cause by identifying weaknesses in internal 

controls, compliance review, training, management oversight, or other areas.

3. Identify action needed to correct violations and to address weaknesses in the 

institution’s compliance system, as appropriate. 

4. Discuss findings with management and obtain a commitment for corrective 

action. 
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Attachment A

18

PRIVACY NOTICE AND OPT OUT DECISION TREE

Yes

Yes

Module 1

Privacy notice (presentation, 

content, and delivery)

(with or without section 

13 notice & contracting)

Short form notice (optional 

for consumers)

Customer notice delivery rules

Opt out rules

Module 2

Privacy notice

Customer notice delivery rules

Section 13 notice & contracting

Does the financial institution 

share nonpublic personal 

information with nonaffiliated 

third parties under sections 13, 

and 14 and/or 15 but not 

outside the exceptions? 

Yes

No

Does the financial 

institution share nonpublic 

personal information with 

nonaffiliated third parties 

only under sections14 

and /or 15?

Module 3

Privacy notice

Simplified notice (if applicable)

Customer notice delivery rules

No

Does the financial institution 

share nonpublic personal 

information with nonaffiliated 

third parties under sections 14 

and/or 15 and outside of the 

exceptions (with or without 

also sharing under 13)?
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Attachment B

19

REDISCLOSURE AND REUSE OF NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION 

RECEIVED FROM NONAFFILIATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS DECISION TREE 

(Sections 11(a) and 11(b))

Under 

Sections 14

and/or 15

Outside of 

Sections 14 

and 15

Does the financial 

institution receive 

nonpublic personal 

information from 

nonaffiliated financial 

institutions?

Yes

No

Module 4

Receipt of 

information under 

14 and/or 15

Module 5

Receipt of 

information outside 

of 14 and/or 15

No review 

necessary

How is that 

information 

received?
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Attachment C

20

ACCOUNT NUMBER SHARING DECISION TREE

(Section 12)

* This may include sharing of encrypted account numbers but not the decryption key. 

Does the financial institution share 

account numbers or similar access 

numbers or codes with nonaffiliated 

third parties (other than a consumer 

reporting agency) for telemarketing, 

direct mail or electronic mail marketing?

Module 6

Account 

number sharing

No review 

necessary

Yes

No*
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 1

21

Sharing nonpublic personal information with nonaffiliated third parties under 

Sections 14 and/or 15 and outside of the exceptions 

(with or without also sharing under Section 13)

Note: Financial institutions whose practices fall within this category engage in the most 

expansive degree of information sharing permissible. Consequently, these institutions are 

held to the most comprehensive compliance standards imposed by the regulation. 

A. Disclosure of Nonpublic Personal Information 

1. Select a sample of third party relationships with nonaffiliated third parties and 

obtain a sample of information shared between the institution and the third party 

both inside and outside of the exceptions. The sample should include a crosssection of relationships but should emphasize those that are higher risk in nature 

as determined by the initial procedures. Perform the following comparisons to 

evaluate the financial institution’s compliance with disclosure limitations. 

a. Compare the categories of information shared and with whom the information

was shared to those stated in the privacy notice and verify that what the 

institution tells consumers (both customers and those who are not customers) 

in its notices about its policies and practices in this regard, and what the 

institution actually does, are consistent (§§6, 10).

b. Compare the information shared to a sample of opt out directions and verify 

that only nonpublic personal information covered under the exceptions or 

from consumers (customers and those who are not customers) who chose not 

to opt out is shared (§10).

2. If the financial institution also shares information under section 13, obtain and 

review contracts with nonaffiliated third parties that perform services for the 

financial institution not covered by the exceptions in section 14 or 15. Determine 

whether the contracts prohibit the third party from disclosing or using the 

information other than to carry out the purposes for which the information was 

disclosed (§13(a)).

B. Presentation, Content, and Delivery of Privacy Notices 

1. Review the financial institution’s initial, annual and revised notices, as well as 

any short-form notices that the institution may use for consumers who are not 

customers. Determine whether or not these notices:

a. Are clear and conspicuous (§§3(b), 4(a), 5(a)(1), 8(a)(1));
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 1

22

b. Accurately reflect the institution’s policies and practices (§§4(a), 5(a)(1), 

8(a)(1)). Note: this includes policies and practices disclosed in the notices 

that exceed regulatory requirements; and

c. Include, and adequately describe, all required items of information and 

contain examples as applicable (§6). Note that if the institution shares under 

nonpublic personal information under section 13 the notice provisions for that 

section shall also apply.

d. If the model privacy form is used, determine that it reflects the institution’s 

policies and practices. For institutions seeking a safe harbor for compliance 

with the content requirements of the regulation, verify that the notice has the 

proper content and is in the proper format as specified in the Appendix of the

regulation.

2. Through discussions with management, review of the institution’s policies, 

procedures, and internal controls and a sample of electronic or written consumer 

records where available, determine if the institution has adequate policies, 

procedures, and internal controls in place to provide notices to consumers, as 

appropriate. Assess the following:

a. Timeliness of delivery (§§4(a), 7(c), 8(a)); and

b. Reasonableness of the method of delivery (e.g., by hand; by mail; 

electronically, if the consumer agrees; or as a necessary step of a transaction) 

(§9).

c. For customers only, review the timeliness of delivery (§§4(d), 4(e), 5(a)), 

means of delivery of annual notice (§9(c)), and accessibility of or ability to 

retain the notice (§9(e)).

C. Opt Out Right 

1. Review the financial institution’s opt out notices. An opt out notice may be 

combined with the institution’s privacy notices. Regardless, determine whether 

the opt out notices:

a. Are clear and conspicuous (§§3(b) and 7(a)(1));

b. Accurately explain the right to opt out (§7(a)(1));

c. Include and adequately describe the three required items of information (the 

institution’s policy regarding disclosure of nonpublic personal information, 

the consumer’s opt out right, and the means to opt out) (§7(a)(1)); and
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 1

23

d. Describe how the institution treats joint relationships, as applicable (§7(d)). 

2. Through discussions with management, review of the institution’s policies, 

procedures, and internal controls and a sample of electronic or written records 

where available, determine if the institution has adequate policies, procedures, 

and internal controls in place to provide the opt out notice and comply with opt 

out directions of consumers (customers and those who are not customers), as 

appropriate. Assess the following:

a. Timeliness of delivery (§10(a)(1));

b. Reasonableness of the method of delivery (e.g., by hand; by mail; 

electronically, if the consumer agrees; or as a necessary step of a transaction) 

(§9).

c. Reasonableness of the opportunity to opt out (the time allowed to and the 

means by which the consumer may opt out) (§§10(a)(1)(iii), 10(a)(3)); and

d. Adequacy of procedures to implement and track the status of a consumer's 

(customers and those who are not customers) opt out direction, including 

those of former customers (§7(e), (f), (g)).

D. Checklist Cross References – Module 1

Regulation Section Subject Checklist Questions

4(a), 6(a, b, c, e), and 9(a, 

b, g)

Privacy notices (presentation, 

content, and delivery)

2, 8-11, 14, 18, 35, 36, 

41

4(a, c, d, e), 5, and 9(c, e) Customer notice delivery rules 1, 3-7, 37-39

13 Section 13 notice and contracting 

rules (as applicable)

12, 48

6(d) Short form notice rules (optional for 

consumers only)

15-17

7, 8, and 10 Opt out rules 19-34, 42-44

14, 15 Exceptions 49-51
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 2

24

Sharing nonpublic personal information with nonaffiliated third parties under 

Sections 13, and 14 and/or 15 but not outside of these exceptions 

A. Disclosure of Nonpublic Personal Information 

1. Select a sample of third party relationships with nonaffiliated third parties and 

obtain a sample of information shared between the institution and the third party. 

The sample should include a cross-section of relationships but should emphasize 

those that are higher risk in nature as determined by the initial procedures. 

Perform the following comparisons to evaluate the financial institution’s 

compliance with disclosure limitations. 

a. Compare the information shared and with whom the information was shared 

to ensure that the institution accurately categorized its information sharing 

practices and is not sharing nonpublic personal information outside the 

exceptions (§§13, 14, 15).

b. Compare the categories of information shared and with whom the information

was shared to those stated in the privacy notice and verify that what the 

institution tells consumers in its notices about its policies and practices in this 

regard and what the institution actually does are consistent (§§6, 10).

c. If the model privacy form is used, determine that it reflects the institution’s 

policies and practices. For institutions seeking a safe harbor for compliance 

with the content requirements of the regulation, verify that the notice has the 

proper content and is in the proper format as specified in the Appendix of the

regulation.

2. Review contracts with nonaffiliated third parties that perform services for the 

financial institution not covered by the exceptions in section 14 or 15. Determine 

whether the contracts adequately prohibit the third party from disclosing or using 

the information other than to carry out the purposes for which the information was 

disclosed (§13(a)).

B. Presentation, Content, and Delivery of Privacy Notices 

1. Review the financial institution’s initial and annual privacy notices. Determine 

whether or not they:

a. Are clear and conspicuous (§§3(b), 4(a), 5(a)(1));

b. Accurately reflect the institution’s policies and practices (§§4(a), 5(a)(1)). 

Note, this includes policies and practices disclosed in the notices that exceed 

regulatory requirements; and
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 2

25

c. Include, and adequately describe, all required items of information and 

contain examples as applicable (§§6, 13).

2. Through discussions with management, review of the institution’s policies, 

procedures, and internal controls and a sample of electronic or written consumer 

records where available, determine if the institution has adequate policies, 

procedures, and internal controls in place to provide notices to consumers, as 

appropriate. Assess the following:

a. Timeliness of delivery (§4(a)); and

b. Reasonableness of the method of delivery (e.g., by hand; by mail; 

electronically, if the consumer agrees; as a necessary step of a transaction; or 

pursuant to the alternative delivery method) (§9).

c. For customers only, review the timeliness of delivery (§§4(d), 4(e), and 5(a)), 

means of delivery of annual notice (§9(c)), and accessibility of or ability to 

retain the notice (§9(e)).

C. Checklist Cross References – Module 2

Regulation Section Subject Checklist Questions

4(a), 6(a, b, c, e),

and 9(a, b, g)

Privacy notices (presentation, content, and 

delivery) 

2, 8-11, 14, 18, 35, 36, 

41

4(a, c, d, e), 5, and 

9(c, e)

Customer notice delivery rules 1, 3-7, 37-39

13 Section 13 notice and contracting rules 12, 48

14, 15 Exceptions 49-51
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 3

26

Sharing nonpublic personal information with nonaffiliated third parties only under 

Sections 14 and/or 15

NOTE: This module applies only to customers.

A. Disclosure of Nonpublic Personal Information

1. Select a sample of third party relationships with nonaffiliated third parties and 

obtain a sample of information shared between the financial institution and the 

third party. 

a. Compare the information shared and with whom the information was shared 

to ensure that the institution accurately states its information sharing practices 

and is not sharing nonpublic personal information outside the exceptions.

B. Presentation, Content, and Delivery of Privacy Notices 

1. Obtain and review the financial institution’s initial and annual notices, as well as any 

simplified notice that the institution may use. Note that the institution may only use 

the simplified notice when it does not also share nonpublic personal information with 

affiliates outside of section 14 and 15 exceptions. Determine whether or not these 

notices:

a. Are clear and conspicuous (§§3(b), 4(a), 5(a)(1));

b. Accurately reflect the institution’s policies and practices (§§4(a), 5(a)(1)). 

Note, this includes policies and practices disclosed in the notices that exceed 

regulatory requirements; and

c. Include, and adequately describe, all required items of information (§6).

d. If the model privacy form is used, determine that it reflects the institution’s 

policies and practices. For institutions seeking a safe harbor for compliance 

with the content requirements of the regulation, verify that the notice has the 

proper content and is in the proper format as specified in the Appendix of the

regulation.

2. Through discussions with management, review of the institution’s policies, 

procedures, and internal controls and a sample of electronic or written customer 

records where available, determine if the institution has adequate policies, 

procedures, and internal controls in place to provide notices to customers, as 

appropriate. Assess the following:

a. Timeliness of delivery (§§4(a), 4(d), 4(e), 5(a)); and
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 3

27

b. Reasonableness of the method of delivery (e.g., by hand; by mail; 

electronically, if the customer agrees; as a necessary step of a transaction; or 

pursuant to the alternative delivery method) (§9) and accessibility of or ability 

to retain the notice (§9(e)).

C. Checklist Cross References – Module 3

Regulation Section Subject Checklist Questions

4 (a, d, e), 5, and 9 Customer notice delivery process 1, 3-7, 35-41

6 Customer notice content and 

presentation

8-11, 14, 18

6 (c)(5) Simplified notice content (optional) 13

14, 15 Exceptions 49-51
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 4

28

Redisclosure and Reuse of nonpublic personal information received from a 

nonaffiliated financial institution under Sections 14 and/or 15

A. Through discussions with management and review of the institution’s policies, 

procedures, and internal controls, determine whether the institution has adequate 

policies, procedures, and internal controls to prevent the unlawful redisclosure and 

reuse of the information where the institution is the recipient of nonpublic personal 

information (§11(a)).

B. Select a sample of information received from nonaffiliated financial institutions, to 

evaluate the financial institution’s compliance with redisclosure and reuse limitations.

1. Verify that the institution’s redisclosure of the information was only to affiliates 

of the financial institution from which the information was obtained or to the 

institution’s own affiliates, except as otherwise allowed in the step 2 below 

(§11(a)(1)(i) and (ii)).

2. Verify that the institution only uses and shares the information pursuant to an 

exception in sections 14 and 15 (§11(a)(1)(iii)).

C. Checklist Cross References – Module 4

Regulation Section Subject Checklist Question

11(a) Redisclosure and reuse 45

14, 15 Exceptions 49-51
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 5

29

Redisclosure of nonpublic personal information received from a nonaffiliated 

financial institution outside of Sections 14 and 15

A. Through discussions with management and review of the institution’s policies, 

procedures, and internal controls, determine whether the institution has adequate 

policies, procedures, and internal controls to prevent the unlawful redisclosure of the 

information where the institution is the recipient of nonpublic personal information 

(§11(b)). 

B. Select a sample of information received from nonaffiliated financial institutions and 

shared with others to evaluate the financial institution’s compliance with redisclosure 

limitations.

1. Verify that the institution’s redisclosure of the information was only to affiliates 

of the financial institution from which the information was obtained or to the 

institution’s own affiliates, except as otherwise allowed in the step 2 below 

(§11(b)(1)(i) and (ii)).

2. If the institution shares information with entities other than those under step 1

above, verify that the institution’s information sharing practices conform to those 

in the nonaffiliated financial institution’s privacy notice (§11(b)(1)(iii)).

3. Also, review the procedures used by the institution to ensure that the information 

sharing reflects the opt out status of the consumers of the nonaffiliated financial 

institution (§§10, 11(b)(1)(iii)). 

C. Checklist Cross References – Module 5

Regulation Section Subject Checklist Question

11(b) Redisclosure 46
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Module 6

30

Account number sharing

A. If available, review a sample of telemarketer scripts used when making sales calls to 

determine whether the scripts indicate that the telemarketers have the account 

numbers of the institution’s consumers (§12(a)).

B. Obtain and review a sample of contracts with agents or service providers to whom the 

financial institution discloses account numbers for use in connection with marketing 

the institution's own products or services. Determine whether the institution shares 

account numbers with nonaffiliated third parties only to perform marketing for the 

institution’s own products and services. Ensure that the contracts do not authorize 

these nonaffiliated third parties to directly initiate charges to the accounts (§12(b)(1)). 

C. Obtain a sample of materials and information provided to the consumer upon entering 

a private label or affinity credit card program. Determine if the participants in each 

program are identified to the customer when the customer enters into the program 

(§12(b)(2)).

D. Checklist Cross References – Module 6

Regulation Section Subject Checklist Question

12 Account number sharing 47
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Examination Checklist

Yes No

31

SUBPART A

Initial Privacy Notice

1. Does the institution provide a clear and conspicuous notice that 

accurately reflects its privacy policies and practices to all customers not

later than when the customer relationship is established, other than as 

allowed in paragraph (e) of section 4 of the regulation? [§4(a)(1))]

(Note: A financial institution establishes a customer relationship when it 

enters into a continuing relationship with a consumer. [§4(c)(1)] With 

respect to credit relationships, an institution establishes a customer 

relationship when it originates a consumer loan. If the institution 

subsequently sells the servicing rights to the loan to another financial 

institution, the customer relationship transfers with the servicing rights. 

[§4(c)(2)])

 

2. Does the institution provide a clear and conspicuous notice that 

accurately reflects its privacy policies and practices to all consumers, 

who are not customers, before any nonpublic personal information about 

the consumer is disclosed to a nonaffiliated third party, other than under 

an exception in section 14 or section 15? [§4(a)(2)]

(Note: no notice is required if nonpublic personal information is disclosed to 

nonaffiliated third parties only under an exception in Sections 14 and 15 and 

there is no customer relationship. [§4(b)])

3. Does the institution provide to existing customers, who obtain a new 

financial product or service, a revised privacy notice that covers the 

customer's new financial product or service, if the most recent notice 

provided to the customer was not accurate with respect to the new 

financial product or service? [§4(d)(1)] 

4. Does the institution provide initial notice after establishing a customer 

relationship only if:

a) the customer relationship is not established at the customer's 

election; [§4(e)(1)(i)] or

b) to do otherwise would substantially delay the customer’s 

transaction (e.g. in the case of a telephone application), and the 

customer agrees to the subsequent delivery? [§4(e)(1)(ii)]

5. When the subsequent delivery of a privacy notice is permitted, does the 

institution provide notice after establishing a customer relationship within 

a reasonable time? [§4(e)]

Annual Privacy Notice

6. Does the institution provide a clear and conspicuous notice that 
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Examination Checklist

Yes No

32

accurately reflects its privacy policies and practices at least annually (that 

is, at least once in any period of 12 consecutive months) to all customers, 

throughout the customer relationship? [§5(a)(1) and (2)] 

(Note: annual notices are not required for former customers. [§5(b)(1) and 

(2)])

7. Does the institution provide an annual privacy notice to each customer 

whose loan the institution owns the right to service? [§§5(c), 4(c)(2)]

Content of Privacy Notices

8. Do the initial, annual, and revised privacy notices include each of the 

following, as applicable:

a. the categories of nonpublic personal information that the institution 

collects; [§6(a)(1)]

b. the categories of nonpublic personal information that the institution 

discloses; [§6(a)(2)]

c. the categories of affiliates and nonaffiliated third parties to whom the 

institution discloses nonpublic personal information, other than 

parties to whom information is disclosed under an exception in 

section 14 or section 15; [§6(a)(3)]

d. the categories of nonpublic personal information disclosed about 

former customers, and the categories of affiliates and nonaffiliated 

third parties to whom the institution discloses that information, other 

than those parties to whom the institution discloses information under 

an exception in section 14 or section 15; [§6(a)(4)]

e. if the institution discloses nonpublic personal information to a 

nonaffiliated third party under section 13, and no exception under 

section 14 or section 15 applies, a separate statement of the categories 

of information the institution discloses and the categories of third 

parties with whom the institution has contracted; [§6(a)(5)]

f. an explanation of the opt out right, including the method(s) of opt out 

that the consumer can use at the time of the notice; [§6(a)(6)]

g. any disclosures that the institution makes under FCRA section 

603(d)(2)(A)(iii); [§6(a)(7)]

h. the institution’s policies and practices with respect to protecting the 

confidentiality and security of nonpublic personal information; 

[§6(a)(8)] and

i. a general statement – with no specific reference to the third parties –

that the institution makes disclosures to other nonaffiliated third 

parties for everyday business purposes, such as (with the institution 

including all purposes that are applicable) to process transactions, 

maintain accounts, respond to court orders and legal investigations, or 

report to credit bureaus, or as permitted by law? [§6(a)(9), (b)(1) and 

(2)]

(Note: Institutions that provide a model privacy form in accordance with the 
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Examination Checklist

Yes No

33

instructions in the Appendix of the regulation will receive a safe harbor for 

compliance with the content requirements of the regulation.)

9. Does the institution list the following categories of nonpublic personal 

information that it collects, as applicable:

a. information from the consumer; [§6(c)(1)(i)]

b. information about the consumer’s transactions with the institution or 

its affiliates; [§6(c)(1)(ii)]

c. information about the consumer’s transactions with nonaffiliated third 

parties; [§6(c)(1)(iii)] and

d. information from a consumer reporting agency? [§6(c)(1)(iv)]

10. Does the institution list the following section 6(c)(1) categories of 

nonpublic personal information that it discloses, as applicable, and a few 

examples of each, or alternatively state that it reserves the right to 

disclose all the nonpublic personal information that it collects:

a. information from the consumer; 

b. information about the consumer’s transactions with the institution or 

its affiliates; 

c. information about the consumer’s transactions with nonaffiliated third 

parties; and 

d. information from a consumer reporting agency? [§6(c)(2)]

(Note: examples are recommended under §6(c)(2)(i) although not under 

§6(c)(1).)

11. Does the institution list the following categories of affiliates and 

nonaffiliated third parties to whom it discloses information, as applicable, 

and a few examples to illustrate the types of the third parties in each 

category:

a. financial service providers; [§6(c)(3)(i)]

b. non-financial companies; [§6(c)(3)(ii)] and 

c. others? [§6(c)(3)(iii)]

12. Does the institution make the following disclosures regarding service

providers and joint marketers to whom it discloses nonpublic personal 

information under section 13:

a. as applicable, the same categories and examples of nonpublic 

personal information disclosed as described in paragraphs (a)(2) and 

(c)(2) of section 6 (see questions 8b and 10); [§6(c)(4)(i)] and

b. that the third party is a service provider that performs marketing on 

the institution’s behalf or on behalf of the institution and another 

financial institution; [§6(c)(4)(ii)(A)] or

c. that the third party is a financial institution with which the institution 

has a joint marketing agreement? [§6(c)(4)(ii)(B)]

13. If the institution does not disclose nonpublic personal information, and 
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Examination Checklist

Yes No

34

does not reserve the right to do so, other than under exceptions in 

sections 14 and 15, does the institution provide a simplified privacy 

notice that contains at a minimum:

a. a statement to this effect;

b. the categories of nonpublic personal information it collects (same as 

paragraph (a)(1) of section 6);

c. the policies and practices the institution uses to protect the 

confidentiality and security of nonpublic personal information (same 

as paragraph (a)(8) of section 6); and

d. a general statement that the institution makes disclosures to other 

nonaffiliated third parties as permitted by law (same as paragraphs 

(a)(9) and (b) of section 6)? [§6(c)(5)]

(Note: use of this type of simplified notice is optional; an institution may 

always use a full notice.)

14. Does the institution describe the following about its policies and practices 

with respect to protecting the confidentiality and security of nonpublic 

personal information:

a. who is authorized to have access to the information; [§6(c)(6)(i)] and

b. whether security practices and policies are in place to ensure the 

confidentiality of the information in accordance with the institution’s 

policy? [§6(c)(6)(ii)] 

(Note: the institution is not required to describe technical information about 

the safeguards used in this respect.)

15. If the institution provides a short-form initial privacy notice with the opt 

out notice, does the institution do so only to consumers with whom the 

institution does not have a customer relationship? [§6(d)(1)]

16. If the institution provides a short-form initial privacy notice according to 

§6(d)(1), does the short-form initial notice: 

a. conform to the definition of “clear and conspicuous”; [§6(d)(2)(i)]

b. state that the institution’s full privacy notice is available upon 

request; [§6(d)(2)(ii)] and 

c. explain a reasonable means by which the consumer may obtain the 

notice? [§6(d)(2)(iii)] 

(Note: the institution is not required to deliver the full privacy notice with the 

short-form initial notice. [§6(d)(3)])

17. Does the institution provide consumers who receive the short-form initial 

notice with a reasonable means of obtaining the longer initial notice, such 

as:

a. a toll-free telephone number that the consumer may call to request the 

notice; [§6(d)(4)(i)] or

b. for the consumer who conducts business in person at the institution's 

office, having copies available to provide immediately by hand-
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Examination Checklist

Yes No

35

delivery? [§6(d)(4)(ii)]

18. If the institution, in its privacy policies and practices, reserves the right to 

disclose nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated third parties in 

the future, does the privacy notice include, as applicable, the:

a. categories of nonpublic personal information that the financial 

institution reserves the right to disclose in the future, but does not 

currently disclose; [§6(e)(1)] and

b. categories of affiliates or nonaffiliated third parties to whom the 

financial institution reserves the right in the future to disclose, but to 

whom it does not currently disclose, nonpublic personal information? 

[§6(e)(2)]

Opt Out Notice

19. If the institution discloses nonpublic personal information about a 

consumer to a nonaffiliated third party, and the exceptions under sections 

13, 14, and 15 do not apply, does the institution provide the consumer 

with a clear and conspicuous opt out notice that accurately explains the 

right to opt out? [§7(a)(1)]

20. Does the opt out notice state:

a. that the institution discloses or reserves the right to disclose 

nonpublic personal information about the consumer to a nonaffiliated 

third party; [§7(a)(1)(i)]

b. that the consumer has the right to opt out of that disclosure; 

[§7(a)(1)(ii)] and 

c. a reasonable means by which the consumer may opt out? 

[§7(a)(1)(iii)]

21. Does the institution provide the consumer with the following information 

about the right to opt out:

a. all the categories of nonpublic personal information that the 

institution discloses or reserves the right to disclose; [§7(a)(2)(i)(A)]

b. all the categories of nonaffiliated third parties to whom the 

information is disclosed; [§7(a)(2)(i)(A)] 

c. that the consumer has the right to opt out of the disclosure of that 

information; [§7(a)(2)(i)(A)] and

d. the financial products or services that the consumer obtains to which 

the opt out direction would apply? [§7(a)(2)(i)(B)] 

22. Does the institution provide the consumer with at least one of the 

following reasonable means of opting out, or with another reasonable 

means:

a. check-off boxes prominently displayed on the relevant forms with the 
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opt out notice; [§7(a)(2)(ii)(A)]

b. a reply form included with the opt out notice; [§7(a)(2)(ii)(B)]

c. an electronic means to opt out, such as a form that can be sent via 

electronic mail or a process at the institution’s web site, if the 

consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information; 

[§7(a)(2)(ii)(C)] or

d. a toll-free telephone number? [§7(a)(2)(ii)(D)]

(Note: the institution may require the consumer to use one specific means, as 

long as that means is reasonable for that consumer. [§7(a)(2)(iv)])

23. If the institution delivers the opt out notice after the initial notice, does 

the institution provide the initial notice once again with the opt out 

notice? [§7(c)]

24. Does the institution provide an opt out notice, explaining how the 

institution will treat opt out directions by the joint consumers, to at least 

one party in a joint consumer relationship? [§7(d)(1)]

25. Does the institution permit each of the joint consumers in a joint 

relationship to opt out? [§7(d)(2)] 

26. Does the opt out notice to joint consumers state that either:

a. the institution will consider an opt out by a joint consumer as 

applying to all associated joint consumers; [§7(d)(2)(i)] or

b. each joint consumer is permitted to opt out separately? [§7(d)(2)(ii)]

27. If each joint consumer may opt out separately, does the institution permit:

a. one joint consumer to opt out on behalf of all of the joint consumers; 

[§7(d)(3)]

b. the joint consumers to notify the institution in a single response; 

[§7(d)(5)(i)] and

c. each joint consumer to opt out either for himself or herself, and/or for 

another joint consumer? [§7(d)(5)(ii)]

28. Does the institution refrain from requiring all joint consumers to opt out 

before implementing any opt out direction with respect to the joint 

account? [§7(d)(4)]

29. Does the institution comply with a consumer’s direction to opt out as 

soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving it? [§7(g)]

30. Does the institution allow the consumer to opt out at any time? [§7(h)]

31. Does the institution continue to honor the consumer’s opt out direction 

until revoked by the consumer in writing, or, if the consumer agrees, 

electronically? [§7(i)(1)]
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32. When a customer relationship ends, does the institution continue to apply 

the customer’s opt out direction to the nonpublic personal information 

collected during, or related to, that specific customer relationship (but not 

to new relationships, if any, subsequently established by that customer)? 

[§7(i)(2)]

Revised Notices

33. Except as permitted by sections 13, 14, and 15, does the institution 

refrain from disclosing any nonpublic personal information about a 

consumer to a nonaffiliated third party, other than as described in the 

initial privacy notice provided to the consumer, unless:

a. the institution has provided the consumer with a clear and 

conspicuous revised notice that accurately describes the institution's 

privacy policies and practices; [§8(a)(1)]

b. the institution has provided the consumer with a new opt out notice; 

[§8(a)(2)] 

c. the institution has given the consumer a reasonable opportunity to opt 

out of the disclosure, before disclosing any information; [§8(a)(3)] 

and

d. the consumer has not opted out? [§8(a)(4)] 

34. Does the institution deliver a revised privacy notice when it:

a. discloses a new category of nonpublic personal information to a 

nonaffiliated third party; [§8(b)(1)(i)]

b. discloses nonpublic personal information to a new category of 

nonaffiliated third party; [§8(b)(1)(ii)] or 

c. discloses nonpublic personal information about a former customer to 

a nonaffiliated third party, if that former customer has not had the 

opportunity to exercise an opt out right regarding that disclosure? 

[§8(b)(1)(iii)] 

(Note: a revised notice is not required if the institution adequately described 

the nonaffiliated third party or information to be disclosed in the prior 

privacy notice. [§8(b)(2)])

Delivery Methods

35. Does the institution deliver the privacy and opt out notices, including the 

short-form notice, so that the consumer can reasonably be expected to 

receive actual notice in writing or, if the consumer agrees, electronically? 

[§9(a)]

36. Does the institution use a reasonable means for delivering the notices, 

such as: 

a. hand-delivery of a printed copy; [§9(b)(1)(i)]
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b. mailing a printed copy to the last known address of the consumer; 

[§9(b)(1)(ii)]

c. for the consumer who conducts transactions electronically, clearly 

and conspicuously posting the notice on the institution’s electronic 

site and requiring the consumer to acknowledge receipt as a necessary 

step to obtaining a financial product or service; [§9(b)(1)(iii)] or

d. for isolated transactions, such as ATM transactions, posting the notice 

on the screen and requiring the consumer to acknowledge receipt as a 

necessary step to obtaining the financial product or service? 

[§9(b)(1)(iv)]

(Note: insufficient or unreasonable means of delivery include: exclusively 

oral notice, in person or by telephone; branch or office signs or generally 

published advertisements; and electronic mail to a customer who does not 

obtain products or services electronically. [§9 (b)(2)(i) and (ii), and (d)])

37. For annual notices only, if the institution does not employ one of the 

methods described in question 36, does the institution employ one of the 

following reasonable means of delivering the notice such as: 

a. for the customer who uses the institution’s web site to access products 

and services electronically and who agrees to receive notices at the 

web site, continuously posting the current privacy notice on the web 

site in a clear and conspicuous manner; [§9(c)(1)(i)] or

b. for the customer who has requested the institution refrain from 

sending any information about the customer relationship, making 

copies of the current privacy notice available upon customer request? 

[§9(c)(1)(ii)]

38. For annual notices only, if the institution uses the alternative delivery 

method does the institution meet the following conditions:

a. the institution does not disclose the customer’s nonpublic personal 

information to nonaffiliated third parties other than for purposes 

under sections 13, 14, and 15; [§9(c)(2)(i)(A)]

b. the institution does not include on its privacy notice an opt out under 

FCRA section 603(d)(2)(A)(iii); [§9(c)(2)(i)(B)]

c. the institution previously provided the customer the opt out notices 

required by FCRA section 624 and Subpart C of Regulation V, if 

applicable, or the privacy notice is not the only notice provided to 

satisfy those requirements; [§9(c)(2)(i)(C)]

d. the information that the institution is required to convey on its privacy

notice pursuant to sections 6(a)(1)-(5), (8), and (9) has not changed 

since it provided the immediately previous privacy notice to the 

customer, other than to eliminate categories of information that it 

discloses or categories of third parties to which it discloses 

information; [§9(c)(2)(i)(D)]

e. the institution uses the model privacy form for its privacy notice; 

[§9(c)(2)(i)(E)]
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f. the institution conveys in a clear and conspicuous manner not less 

than annually on an account statement, coupon book, or a notice or 

disclosure that it is required or expressly and specifically permitted to 

issue to the customer under any other provision of law that the 

privacy notice is available on its web site and will be mailed to the 

customer upon request by telephone, and the statement states that the 

privacy notice has not changed and includes a specific web address 

that takes the customer to the web site where the privacy notice is 

pasted and a telephone number for the customer to request that it be 

mailed; [§9(c)(2)(ii)(A)]

g. the institution posts its privacy notice continuously and in a clear and 

conspicuous manner on a page on its web site on which the only 

content is the privacy notice, without requiring the customer to 

provide any information such as a login name or password or agree to 

any conditions to access the web site; [§9(c)(2)(ii)(B)] and

h. the institution mails its current privacy notice to those customers who 

request it by telephone within ten calendar days of the request? 

[§9(c)(2)(ii)(C)]

39. For customers only, does the institution ensure that the initial, annual, 

and revised notices may be retained or obtained later by the customer in 

writing, or if the customer agrees, electronically? [§9(e)(1)]

40. Does the institution use an appropriate means to ensure that notices may 

be retained or obtained later, such as:

a. hand-delivery of a printed copy of the notice; [§9(e)(2)(i)]

b. mailing a printed copy to the last known address of the customer; 

[§9(e)(2)(ii)] or

c. making the current privacy notice available on the institution’s web 

site (or via a link to the notice at another site) for the customer who 

agrees to receive the notice at the web site? [§9(e)(2)(iii)]

41. Does the institution provide at least one initial, annual, and revised 

notice, as applicable, to joint consumers? [§9(g)]

SUBPART B

Limits on Disclosure to Nonaffiliated Third Parties

42. Does the institution refrain from disclosing any nonpublic personal 

information about a consumer to a nonaffiliated third party, other than as 

permitted under sections 13, 14, and 15, unless:

a. it has provided the consumer with an initial notice; [§10(a)(1)(i)]

b. it has provided the consumer with an opt out notice; [§10(a)(1)(ii)]

c. it has given the consumer a reasonable opportunity to opt out before 

the disclosure; [§10(a)(1)(iii)] and

d. the consumer has not opted out? [§10(a)(1)(iv)]
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(Note: this disclosure limitation applies to consumers as well as to customers 

[§10(b)(1)], and to all nonpublic personal information regardless of whether 

the information was collected before or after receiving an opt out direction. 

[§10(b)(2)])

43. Does the institution provide the consumer with a reasonable opportunity 

to opt out such as by:

a. mailing the notices required by section 10 and allowing the consumer 

to respond by toll-free telephone number, return mail, or other 

reasonable means (see question 22) within 30 days from the date 

mailed; [§10(a)(3)(i)]

b. where the consumer opens an on-line account with the institution and 

agrees to receive the notices required by section 10 electronically, 

allowing the consumer to opt out by any reasonable means (see 

question 22) within 30 days from consumer acknowledgement of 

receipt of the notice in conjunction with opening the account; 

[§10(a)(3)(ii)] or

c. for isolated transactions, providing the notices required by section 10 

at the time of the transaction and requesting that the consumer decide, 

as a necessary part of the transaction, whether to opt out before the 

completion of the transaction? [§10(a)(3)(iii)]

44. Does the institution allow the consumer to select certain nonpublic 

personal information or certain nonaffiliated third parties with respect to 

which the consumer wishes to opt out? [§10(c)]

(Note: an institution may allow partial opt outs in addition to, but may not 

allow them instead of, a comprehensive opt out.)

Limits on Redisclosure and Reuse of Information

45. If the institution receives information from a nonaffiliated financial 

institution under an exception in section 14 or section 15, does the 

institution refrain from using or disclosing the information except:

a. to disclose the information to the affiliates of the financial institution 

from which it received the information; [§11(a)(1)(i)]

b. to disclose the information to its own affiliates, which are in turn 

limited by the same disclosure and use restrictions as the recipient 

institution; [§11(a)(1)(ii)] and

c. to disclose and use the information pursuant to an exception in 

section 14 or section 15 in the ordinary course of business to carry out 

the activity covered by the exception under which the information 

was received? [§11(a)(1)(iii)]

(Note: the disclosure or use described in section c of this question need not 

be directly related to the activity covered by the applicable exception. For 

instance, an institution receiving information for fraud-prevention purposes 

could provide the information to its auditors. But the phrase “in the 
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ordinary course of business” does not include marketing. [§11(a)(2)])

46. If the institution receives information from a nonaffiliated financial 

institution other than under an exception in section 14 or section 15, does 

the institution refrain from disclosing the information except:

a. to the affiliates of the financial institution from which it received the 

information; [§11(b)(1)(i)]

b. to its own affiliates, which are in turn limited by the same disclosure 

restrictions as the recipient institution; [§11(b)(1)(ii)] and

c. to any other person, if the disclosure would be lawful if made directly 

to that person by the institution from which the recipient institution 

received the information? [§11(b)(1)(iii)]

Limits on Sharing Account Number Information for Marketing 

Purposes

47. Does the institution refrain from disclosing, directly or through affiliates, 

account numbers or similar forms of access numbers or access codes for 

a consumer's credit card account, deposit account, or transaction account 

to any nonaffiliated third party (other than to a consumer reporting 

agency) for telemarketing, direct mail or electronic mail marketing to the 

consumer, except:

a to the institution’s agents or service providers solely to market the 

institution’s own products or services, as long as the agent or 

service provider is not authorized to directly initiate charges to the 

account; [§12(b)(1)] or

b to a participant in a private label credit card program or an affinity 

or similar program where the participants in the program are 

identified to the customer when the customer enters into the 

program? [§12(b)(2)] 

(Note: an “account number or similar form of access number or access 

code” does not include numbers in encrypted form, so long as the institution 

does not provide the recipient with a means of decryption. [§12(c)(1)] A 

transaction account does not include an account to which third parties 

cannot initiate charges. [§12(c)(2)])

SUBPART C

Exception to Opt Out Requirements for Service Providers and Joint 

Marketing

48. If the institution discloses nonpublic personal information to a 

nonaffiliated third party without permitting the consumer to opt out, do 

the opt out requirements of sections 7 and 10, and the revised notice 

requirements in section 8, not apply because:

a the institution disclosed the information to a nonaffiliated third 
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party who performs services for or functions on behalf of the 

institution (including joint marketing of financial products and 

services offered pursuant to a joint agreement as defined in 

paragraph (b) of section 13); [§13(a)(1)]

b the institution has provided consumers with the initial notice; 

[§13(a)(1)(i)] and

c the institution has entered into a contract with that party 

prohibiting the party from disclosing or using the information 

except to carry out the purposes for which the information was 

disclosed, including use under an exception in section 14 or 

section 15 in the ordinary course of business to carry out those 

purposes? [§13(a)(1)(ii)]

Exceptions to Notice and Opt Out Requirements for Processing and 

Servicing Transactions

49. If the institution discloses nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated 

third parties, do the requirements for initial notice in section 4(a)(2), opt 

out in sections 7 and 10, revised notice in section 8, and for service 

providers and joint marketing in section 13, not apply because the 

information is disclosed as necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a 

transaction that the consumer requests or authorizes, or in connection 

with:

a. servicing or processing a financial product or service requested or 

authorized by the consumer; [§14(a)(1)]

b. maintaining or servicing the consumer's account with the institution 

or with another entity as part of a private label credit card program or 

other credit extension on behalf of the entity; or [§14(a)(2)]

c. a proposed or actual securitization, secondary market sale (including 

sale of servicing rights) or other similar transaction related to a 

transaction of the consumer? [§14(a)(3)]

50. If the institution uses a section 14 exception as necessary to effect, 

administer, or enforce a transaction, is the disclosure:

a. required, or is one of the lawful or appropriate methods, to enforce 

the rights of the institution or other persons engaged in carrying out 

the transaction or providing the product or service; [§14(b)(1)] or

b. required, or is a usual, appropriate, or acceptable method,

to:[§14(b)(2)]

i. carry out the transaction or the product or service business of 

which the transaction is a part, including recording, servicing, or 

maintaining the consumer's account in the ordinary course of 

business; [§14(b)(2)(i)]

ii. administer or service benefits or claims; [§14(b)(2)(ii)]

iii. confirm or provide a statement or other record of the transaction 

or information on the status or value of the financial service or 
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financial product to the consumer or the consumer’s agent or 

broker; [§14(b)(2)(iii)]

iv. accrue or recognize incentives or bonuses; [§14(b)(2)(iv)]

v. underwrite insurance or for reinsurance or for certain other 

purposes related to a consumer's insurance; [§14(b)(2)(v)] or 

vi. in connection with: 

(1) the authorization, settlement, billing, processing, clearing, 

transferring, reconciling, or collection of amounts charged, 

debited, or otherwise paid by using a debit, credit, or other 

payment card, check, or account number, or by other payment 

means; [§14(b)(2)(vi)(A)]

(2) the transfer of receivables, accounts or interests therein; 

[§14(b)(2)(vi)(B)] or

(3) the audit of debit, credit, or other payment information? 

[§14(b)(2)(vi)(C)]

Other Exceptions to Notice and Opt Out Requirements

51. If the institution discloses nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated 

third parties, do the requirements for initial notice in section 4(a)(2), opt 

out in sections 7 and 10, revised notice in section 8, and for service 

providers and joint marketers in section 13, not apply because the 

institution makes the disclosure:

a. with the consent or at the direction of the consumer; [§15(a)(1)]

b. to protect the confidentiality or security of records, [§15(a)(2)(i)]; to 

protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud, unauthorized 

transactions, claims, or other liability, [§15(a)(2)(ii)]; for required 

institutional risk control or for resolving consumer disputes or 

inquiries, [§15(a)(2)(iii)]; to persons holding a legal or beneficial 

interest relating to the consumer, [§15(a)(2)(iv)]; or to persons acting 

in a fiduciary or representative capacity on behalf of the consumer;

[§15(a)(2)(v)]

c. to insurance rate advisory organizations, guaranty funds or agencies, 

agencies rating the institution, persons assessing compliance, and the 

institution's attorneys, accountants, and auditors; [§15(a)(3)]

d. as specifically permitted or required by other provisions of law and in 

compliance with the Right to Financial Privacy Act, to law 

enforcement agencies, self-regulatory organizations, or for an 

investigation on a matter related to public safety; [§15(a)(4)]

e. to a consumer reporting agency in accordance with the FCRA or from 

a consumer report reported by a consumer reporting agency; 

[§15(a)(5)]

f. in connection with a proposed or actual sale, merger, transfer, or 

exchange of all or a portion of a business or operating unit, if the 

disclosure of nonpublic personal information concerns solely 

consumers of such business or unit; [§15(a)(6)]
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g. to comply with Federal, state, or local laws, rules, or legal 

requirements; [§15(a)(7)(i)]

h. to comply with a properly authorized civil, criminal, or regulatory 

investigation, or subpoena or summons by Federal, state, or local 

authorities; [§15(a)(7)(ii)] or

i. to respond to judicial process or government regulatory authorities 

having jurisdiction over the institution for examination, compliance, 

or other purposes as authorized by law? [§15(a)(7)(iii)]

(Note: the regulation gives the following as an example of the exception 

described in section a of this question: “A consumer may specifically consent 

to [an institution’s] disclosure to a nonaffiliated insurance company of the 

fact that the consumer has applied to [the institution] for a mortgage so that 

the insurance company can offer homeowner’s insurance to the consumer.”)