We take the issue of privacy very seriously. This statement outlines our commitment to ensure that all information that you, as a visitor to our Web site, share with us will be handled with care and respect for your concerns and privacy.

We do not collect any personal information from anyone who is merely visiting or browsing our Web site. By necessity, we will collect information about you or your organization if you voluntarily choose to send us an email, request information or ask to be contacted by one of our representatives. During your visit to our Web site, some information (so-called "cookies") may be created on your browser to facilitate easier navigation within our site. These cookies are used to facilitate easier navigation within the site and to provide a higher level of convenience for the visitor. We do not use cookies for any other purposes.

We use information that you provide during a visit to our Web site to respond to your specific requests, to provide the best possible service to you, including the provision of the latest information about products and services offered, and to comply with any applicable legal and/or regulatory requirements. We also may maintain a log or record of the communication between you and us via our Web site to ensure that proper and timely follow-ups to your request or comments have occurred and to measure our Web site's effectiveness as a communication vehicle. Certain employees of The Bank of New York Mellon or its affiliates may be given the information you provide to us via our Web site in order that they may respond to your requests. Such employees are instructed to use strict care in handling the information you have given to us and to share it with others only on a "need to know" basis for purpose of serving your interests. All employees of The Bank of New York Mellon are subject to a Code of Conduct, which provides disciplinary sanctions including dismissal for failure to conform to the Code's confidentiality rules.

We respect the privacy of your children and do not knowingly collect or retain personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13 through our Web site.

We retain information we receive through this Web site, including information you give us to open an account or purchase a product or service from us, information you give to us in inquiries and other communications, and records of any transactions you perform. We share this information with affiliated and nonaffiliated parties only as necessary to process and service your transactions with us, or as required by law. Such parties may include those who provide services to us in connection with your accounts or transactions, or who are involved in providing you the services you request. In certain instances they might include a purchaser or potential purchaser of an account. We also report information to credit bureaus in appropriate cases. And we share information with government agencies and law enforcement as necessary. This notice is effective July 1, 2007. Any changes to our policy will be reflected on this Web page.

"We" refers to the family of companies owned by The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.

Like all financial services companies, we collect a variety of information about individuals, including but not limited to our customers and employees.  In many cases that information includes individuals' Social Security numbers.  We use records of Social Security numbers for many purposes, especially to comply with federal and state laws such as tax laws and anti-money-laundering laws.

Our policy is (i) to comply with all laws restricting the use and disclosure of Social Security numbers, (ii) to protect the confidentiality of Social Security numbers, (iii) to prohibit the unlawful disclosure of Social Security numbers, and (iv) to limit access to Social Security numbers to our employees, and in certain cases to nonaffiliated parties that provide services to us, based on their responsibilities.  To safeguard Social Security numbers, we maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that are designed to comply with applicable legal standards.  Our employees are prohibited from disclosing Social Security numbers for unauthorized purposes.

We may share Social Security numbers among our affiliated companies or with nonaffiliated parties for administrative purposes, such as to process transactions, verify identities, and service accounts.  We disclose Social Security numbers as required or permitted by law, such as to the Internal Revenue Service or to credit bureaus.  When necessary, we disclose Social Security numbers to regulatory agencies, law enforcement agencies, courts, and parties to lawsuits.

We may share Social Security numbers among our affiliated companies for marketing purposes, but only in compliance with legal restrictions, including required opportunities to opt out of such sharing.  We do not, without consent of the individual involved, share Social Security numbers with parties not affiliated with us to enable them to market their own products or services.

For information on Mellon's privacy policy, please click here  »