Some banks also describe the general circumstances under which the bank will share information with third parties. To ensure that these stated principles are readily understood, some banks have supplemented their privacy principles with a series of questions and answers about the handling of customer information. Banks have used a number of different devices to feature their privacy statements prominently. Banks with effective communication practices have posted privacy policies at specific locations on their Web sites where they may be most meaningful to the consumer. For instance, a bank that permits customers to submit on-line credit applications displays its privacy policy at the point at which the customer is asked to submit personal information.
Several banks place links to their privacy policies in the footer of each of their Web site pages.
Developing an Effective Privacy Policy Banks with effective privacy policies also take steps to ensure that their internal policies and procedures are consistent with and support stated privacy promises. Senior Management Involvement Effective policies and procedures often involve senior management's knowledge of, and involvement in, the planning process. Senior management can provide a broad perspective on the issues, dedicate appropriate resources to accomplish the task, and create the necessary culture to ensure that privacy matters are addressed comprehensively and consistently across the organization. In a number of banks, the teams or personnel responsible for developing privacy policies and procedures report directly to senior officials. The multi-disciplinary team approach has enabled banks to centralize efforts, while ensuring that diverse interests and perspectives in the company are represented.