We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:

• Information we receive from you on applications or other forms;
• Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; and
• Information we receive from a consumer reporting agency.

"Nonpublic personal information" is nonpublic information about you that we obtain in connection with providing a financial product or service to you.  For example, nonpublic personal information includes information regarding your loan and/or account balance, payment history and overdraft history.

INFORMATION WE DISCLOSE

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal financial information about our customers or former customer to anyone, except as permitted by law.  We are permitted under law to disclose such information about you to third parties in certain circumstances.  For example, we may disclose nonpublic information about you to third parties to assist us in servicing your loan or account with us; to respond to a subpoena or court order, judicial process or regulatory authorities; to consumer reporting agencies; when you direct us to do so or to protect against fraud.  Since this is our policy, there is nothing to do to request us not to share customer information with such third parties.

We may disclose all of the customer information we collect (as described above), on customers to companies that perform marketing services for us or to other financial with whom we have joint marketing arrangements.  Examples of these companies or financial institutions are:  financial institutions with whom we have joint marketing agreements such as credit card companies; and to companies that provide marketing services for us, such as bulk mailing companies, direct marketing companies, market research firms, and marketing consultants.  You have the right to opt out of disclosure of this information to these third-party service providers.

We are permitted under law to disclose nonpublic personal information about you to our affiliates.  This includes transaction and experience information from our account records, such as name, address, account balances, account activity, types of accounts, payment history and deposit history.

An affiliate is a company we own or control, a company that is owned or controlled by the same company that owns or controls us.  Ownership does not mean complete ownership, but means owning enough to have control.  Our affiliates currently include:  Valley Bank and Trust Co. - Gering, Scottsbluff, Bayard, Ogallala, Grant and Wauneta, NE; Western States Bank - Fort Collins and Loveland, CO; Valley Insurance Services, Inc. - Gering, Scottsbluff, Bayard, Grant and Wauneta, NE; and Western Insurance Services, Inc. - Fort Collins and Loveland, CO.  Federal law allows us to disclose the information listed above with our affiliates and a right to opt out of the disclosure of this information does not apply.

OUR SECURITY PROCEDURES

We restrict access to personally identifiable customer information to those employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you.  Our employees are trained on the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of customer information.  We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your nonpublic personal information.

INFORMATION ACCURACY

We continually strive to maintain complete and accurate information about you and your accounts.  Should you believe that our records contain inaccurate or incomplete information about you, please contact your local branch.  We will investigate your concerns and correct any inaccuracies.

FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT DISCLOSURE

We are permitted under law to disclose nonpublic personal information about you to our affiliates.  Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you may direct us not to share certain credit information with our affiliates.  Examples of the kind of credit information that you may direct us not to share include the nonpublic personal information you provide in your application or that we obtain about you from nonaffiliated third parties such as credit bureaus.  If you do not want this information shared, you may write to us at Valley Bank and Trust Co., Attention:  Bookkeeping, P. O. Box 538, Gering, Nebraska  69341.  Please provide your name, address, Social Security number and account number(s).  Your request not to share credit information does not include information we are permitted to share by law as explained above.  Any privacy instructions you provide us will remain in effect until you request a change and will not expire.  For customers holding a joint account with us, we will accept a decision from either individual.  This decision will apply to both parties named under the account or policy.  If you decide to close your account(s) or become an inactive customer, we will continue to adhere to the privacy policies and practices above.

PRIVACY STATEMENT INQUIRES

We value our customer relationships.  We want you to understand our commitment to privacy and our use of customer information.  If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy or how the bank protects your confidential information, please contact your local branch.