Privacy and Security

We do not collect personal information when you visit our website unless you choose to provide that information.

Information Collected and Stored Automatically

When you visit our site, we may store some or all of the following: the Internet address from which you accessed our site, date and time, the Internet address of the website from which you linked to CFPB, the name of the file or words you searched, items clicked on a page, and the browser and operating system used.

This information is used to measure the number of visitors to the various sections of our site and identify system performance or problem areas. We also use this information to help us develop the site; analyze patterns of usage; and to make the site more useful. This information is not used for associating search terms or patterns of site navigation with individual users. This site periodically deletes its web logs. On occasion, this site may provide this information to third party entities it contracts with for the purposes of research analysis.

Use of Persistent Cookies

Like many websites, this site uses "persistent cookie" technology. A persistent cookie is a small text file that this website places on your computer so that it can remember you when you show up again later - kind of like cookie crumbs! (Hence the name.) We use persistent cookies in two ways, both of which enhance your experience on this site while also protecting your privacy:

To get aggregate metrics on site usage to understand how people are using the site and how we can make it better. We use web metrics services to track activity on this site. Government agencies only ever receive traffic statistics anonymously and in the aggregate.

Most Internet browsers automatically accept persistent cookies. Although we think using persistent cookies creates a much better experience for you, this site will also work without them. If you don't want to accept cookies, you can edit your browser's options to stop accepting persistent cookies or to prompt you before accepting a cookie from the websites you visit; here's how to disable cookies.

If You Send Us Personal Information

We do not collect personal information for any purpose other than to respond to your request. If you choose to provide us with personal information - like filling out a "Contact Us" form, with an e-mail address and ZIP code, and submitting it to us through the website - we use that information to respond to your message, and to help get you the information you requested. Similarly, if you order a publication from us, we will collect your name, and mailing address to fulfill your order.

We only share the information you give us with another government agency if your question relates to that agency, or as otherwise required by law. We never collect information or creates individual profiles for commercial marketing.

Site Security

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this government computer system employs commercial software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage.

Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits. Raw data logs are used for no other purposes and are scheduled for regular destruction in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration guidelines.

Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.

External Links

We may links to many websites created and maintained by other public and/or private organizations as outlined in our Linking Policy. If you click a link to an outside website, you will leave this site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website.

Prohibitions

We will not link to any website that exhibits hate, bias, or discrimination. We reserve the right to deny or remove any link that contains misleading information or unsubstantiated claims, or is determined to be in conflict with CFPB's mission or policies.