We’re dedicated to delivering superior personalized service to our Members through our commitment to protect your privacy and your right to control the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information. We have proactively put 10 Principles in place that guide our employees and directors in maintaining confidentiality. These 10 principles are embedded in the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
10 Principles of the Credit Union Code for the Protection of Personal Information, which Meridian has fully embraced.
- Accountability - We have designated a Privacy Officer who is accountable for our compliance with the principles of The Code.Â
- Identifying Purposes - Before or at the time we ask you for personal information, we will identify the purposes for which it will be used or disclosed.Â
- Consent - We require your knowledge and consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information.Â
- Limiting Collection - The collection of personal information is limited to only the purposes we’ve identified to you.Â
- Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention - We will only use or disclose your personal information with your consent (or as required by law). And we will only retain your information as long as necessary to fulfill identified purposes.
- Accuracy - We will keep your information accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
- Safeguards - We will protect your personal information with appropriate security safeguards.
- Openness - We will make specific, understandable information readily available to you about our personal information policies and practices.
- Individual Access - When you require it, we will give you access to the existence, use, and disclosure of your information. You are entitled to question its accuracy, completeness, and its uses.
- Challenging Compliance - You are entitled to question the Privacy Officer about our compliance with any of these principles.
We obtain personal information about you to:
- Establish and verify your identityÂ
- Understand your needsÂ
- Assess your suitability and eligibility for products and services
- Recommend other products and services that we reasonably believe may be of interest to you
- Provide on-going service
- Detect fraud to both you and the credit unionÂ
- Collection purposesÂ
- Compliance with legal requirements
We keep this information only for as long as it is needed for the purposes described above, even if you cease to be a Member.
We explain why we need your information
When we request personal information from you, we explain why we need it. For example, when you open an account we need at the very least, your name and address in order to provide you with regular account statements. When you apply for credit-related products, we need information about your financial situation in order to make sound credit-granting decisions, both for you and for us.
If you open an interest-bearing account or an RRSP or other registered product, we’re required to ask for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) by law.
Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is optional
- We ask for your Social Insurance Number for:Â
- Income tax reporting required by law, andÂ
- Administrative purposes, such as ensuring:
- An accurate match between your personal information and your credit bureau information when applying for products and services, andÂ
- The accuracy and integrity of your personal information by using your SIN as a unique identifier for you.Â
Giving us your Social Insurance Number is voluntary. If you provide your SIN, we will take this as your express consent to use it for the purposes described above. If you choose not to give us your SIN, this by itself will not prevent you from getting credit; however, it may prevent us from providing products where your SIN is required by law (e.g., interest-bearing accounts or registered investments).
Credit Bureaus
When you apply for credit-related products and services from us, we always get your written consent to obtain credit reports about you. Once we have granted you credit, we are required by the terms of contractual agreements with the credit bureaus to supply regular, current information on the status of loans or credit that we have granted you in order to maintain the accuracy, completeness and integrity of that information. We do not disclose more information than is required, nor for periods longer than is required.
You can give or withdraw your Consent
We need to get your express or implied consent before obtaining or using information about you, or disclosing this information to anyone else. (There are exceptions, such as when we are required by law.) When you ask us to provide a product or service, we’ll take this as your consent to collect and use the information necessary to deliver you that product or service. You can withdraw this consent whenever you want, unless legal requirements prevent this. However, this may seriously impede our ability to offer you products and services.
Meridian’s Privacy Policy
Effective January 1, 2004 Meridian (along with other financial services providers) was required to comply with the Federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). PIPEDA protects an individual's right to the privacy of personal information and guides an organization’s need to collect, use, or disclose personal information for legitimate business purposes.
Credit Union Central of Canada (CUCC) created and maintains the Credit Union Code for the Protection of Personal Information (“the Code”). The Code incorporates the requirements of PIPEDA and provides additional explanations to assist with on-going administration.
Meridian has adopted the Protection of Personal Information (“the Code”), which guides us in the protection your privacy. Embedded within the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act are 10 Principles, which Meridian is in full compliance.
Privacy Brochure
Contact Meridian’s Privacy Officer
Meridian has a designated Privacy Officer who is accountable for monitoring the collection and security of personal information. The Privacy Officer also handles your inquiries about privacy and how Meridian uses your information.
You can contact Meridian’s Privacy Officer through Meridian’s Contact Centre toll-free at 1-866-592-2226 (ask for the “Privacy Officer”) or at 905-988-4042 ext 2057
You may also contact the Privacy Officer in writing as follows:
By Mail: Meridian Â
Attention: Privacy Officer Â
75 Corporate Park Drive Â
St. Catharines, Ontario  L2S 3W3Â
By Phone: 905-988-4042 ext 2057Â
By Fax: 905-988-1521Â
By Email: privacyofficer@meridiancu.caÂ
By Online comment card: www.meridiancu.ca/giveusyourfeedback
