Privacy

KBC Financial Products is committed to protecting your privacy. While the range of products and services we offer our clients continues to expand and the technology we use changes, our foremost concern is to protect your privacy. To this end, employees of KBC Financial Products are required to adhere to strict internet privacy standards established by our Managing Directors.

Safeguarding clients’ personal information

Protecting clients’ privacy means:

  • We keep client information and the business they do with us in the strictest confidence
  • We do not sell, trade or rent client information
  • We have control over how we obtain, use and give out account information about our clients
  • We respect our clients, privacy when marketing our products and services
  • We take steps to adhere to our obligations and to protect our clients’ rights under data protection laws

Limiting employee access

We take steps to protect our clients’ information from error, loss and unauthorized access. Employees with access to client information are aware of the measures inherent in maintaining confidentiality. Each employee must sign an agreement stating that maintaining confidentiality is a condition of employment.

Our computer security specialists act to ensure security measures are in place to protect client information at all times, whether stored in data files or utilised by our employees.

Collection and usage of client information

Why we need information

As our clients change the types and/or quantities of products and services they require, they may be asked to provide additional information in order to:

  • Establish identification
  • Help protect from error and fraud
  • Provide ongoing services
  • Meet legal regulatory requirements

We may verify some of the information clients give us with their employers or other references.

We may review and analyse clients use of our products and services, including account transactions, to help protect our clients from unauthorised use of account(s), to help us better serve our clients, and to bring other products and services to their attention. We may also collect and analyse information from other sources for the same purposes.

On this website, we may also request information from users so that we may provide them with access to subscription or other services. The information we request (which includes the user’s name, company and contact details) enables us to provide and monitor ongoing use of those services.

If you contact us through this website regarding employment opportunities, we may also request from you a copy of your resumé and personal details relating to your employment application. That information will be used for the purpose of assessing your application, and we shall ensure that its collection and use is in accordance with this privacy policy and our obligations under data protection laws.

Information used only with client consent

We obtain client consent before we:

  • Offer clients other products and services
  • Send clients information about products and services through direct marketing
  • Disclose to other persons information about our clients unless we are obligated to do so by law or to protect our clients’ interests

Sharing of information with third parties

We do not share information about clients with our service providers or offer it to parties outside KBC Financial Products without client consent.

However, we may collect, use or disclose information without client consent if we:

  • Must disclose information for legal reasons. We may be required to release information by a court of law, or other legal or regulatory authorities or agencies. If so, our guideline is to release information only to the extent required and to ensure that the relevant governmental or regulatory agency has invoked the appropriate authority, forcing us to release information we have about the client
  • Must prepare a required risk management profile or must perform a necessary credit check
  • Must disclose information in order to process client trades. For example, disclosure to clearing agencies, exchanges, our clearing brokers, clients’ “prime” brokers or clearing agents, brokers used to execute, etc

Transfers outside the EEA

Except as set out above, we will not share information about clients with anyone outside the KBC Financial Products Group. However, some of our affiliates within the KBC Financial Products Group may be outside the European Economic Area. Some of these countries do not always have strong data protection laws. However, we will always take steps to ensure that personal information relating to clients is used in those jurisdictions in accordance with this privacy policy.

Consent and “opt out”

We rely on clients’ implied consent to use and disclose identifying information, such as clients’ names and addresses. Clients may withdraw their consent in writing at any time, provided no legal requirements exist to prevent this. However, if the clients do not consent to certain uses of information, or if they withdraw (“opt out”) their consent, we may not be able to provide them a particular product or service.

We may, from time to time, and with their consent, provide clients with materials and information by way of direct marketing using the contact details provided by them. If at any time, a client wishes to opt out of receiving such direct marketing materials, they can do so by contacting our data protection manager on the contact details below.

Client record maintenance

Clients have access to their own account contact information (i.e., legal entity names and addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, physical and trading addresses, contact names, etc.). We keep this information on record for a period of 7 years, which meets or exceeds legal requirements. Clients may check their account information for verifications, updates, corrections and to delete obsolete information.

Clients may access the information we collect about them at any time. To enquire about accessing your personal data, please contact our data protection manager on the contact details below.

Compliance

We have strict guidelines and procedures in place to ensure that our employees maintain client privacy. These guidelines are reviewed by staff independent of both the Information Technology group and the firm’s various business areas.

Use of cookies

We use cookies on our website. Cookies are small files which can be placed on your computer’s hard disk. Cookies make it easier for you to log on and use the site during future visits. They allow us to monitor website traffic and to personalise the content of the site for you.

You are not obliged to accept a cookie that we send to you, and you can in fact set up your computer to reject cookies. However, if you disable cookies you may not be able to use certain features of our site. Unless you have indicated your objection when disclosing your details to us, a system will issue cookies to your computer when you log onto the site. If you do not wish to receive cookies in the future, please let us know.

Tell us what you think

We are committed to ensuring a high quality of service to our clients. We welcome any comments or concerns about our privacy guidelines, and we are committed to working with you in achieving a successful resolution.

If you have any questions relating to this policy then please contact us at:

Address: Tim Jenkins

Telephone: +44 207 614 6000

email: tim.jenkins@kbcfp.com

This website is governed in accordance with the laws of England.