Privacy Policy

1. Types of Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

Because many small businesses are closely tied to their owners, lendingenius may collect personal information that identifies or relates to you as an individual, such as contact or financial data. Personal Information does not include:

• Publicly available government records; or
• Deidentified or aggregated data.

Some information is required by law (for example, to verify identity), and other information is needed to provide our Services or improve our Site. If you decline to provide certain information, our Services may be unavailable or limited.

1.2 Examples of Personal Information

Depending on how you use our Services, we may collect:

• Personal Identification Information: Full name, date of birth, home address, phone number, email, IP address, or photographs.
• Formal Identification Information: Government-issued IDs such as driver's license, passport, or tax ID number.
• Business Information: Employer Identification Number (EIN), articles of incorporation, or information about beneficial owners.
• Financial Information: Bank account details, tax returns, financial statements, income data, or credit score.
• Transaction Information: Details about loan applications, funding requests, or transactions through our Services.
• Employment Information: Job title or business role.
• Correspondence: Communications, survey responses, or support requests.

1.3 Device and Digital Information

We automatically collect certain technical and usage data when you use our Site, including:

• Online identifiers (IP address, device ID, browser type, geolocation, operating system).
• Usage data (pages visited, links clicked, session duration, referring URLs, and analytics data).

Cookies and similar technologies help us analyze traffic, enhance user experience, and detect fraud.

1.4 Information from Third Parties

We may obtain information about you from third-party sources, including:

• Public Databases and ID Verification Partners (for identity verification).
• Credit Bureaus, with your consent, for matching and fraud prevention.
• Financial Institutions, with your consent, to access statements or financial data (via services like Finicity, Ocrolus, or Plaid).
• Marketing or Analytics Providers that help us understand how users find and interact with our Site.
• Service Providers that assist us with functions such as hosting, payments, or security.

2. How Information Is Collected

We collect information:

• Directly from you when you complete forms, apply for funding, or communicate with us.
• Automatically when you visit or interact with our Site.
• From third parties as described above.

If you do not agree with any aspect of this Privacy Policy, please discontinue use of our Site and Services.

2.1 Application Process

We collect information such as your name, business name, address, tax ID, type of business, sales volume, and other business details to process your funding application.

2.2 Emails and Calls

We use your email and phone number for account-related notifications and updates. With your consent, we may also send marketing communications. You can opt out of marketing emails at any time (see Section 7).

We may record or monitor calls and texts for quality assurance and compliance with applicable laws.

2.3 Service Providers

We use trusted third parties to operate our Site, chat features, analytics tools, and customer support systems. These providers may collect information on our behalf under strict confidentiality obligations.

2.4 Log Files and Cookies

We log device and browser information (such as IP address and user agent) to improve functionality, track usage, and prevent fraud. Cookies and similar technologies personalize your experience and measure performance.

2.5 Web Beacons

We use small graphic files ("web beacons") in emails and on our Site to understand user engagement and improve communications.

2.6 Other Sources

We may combine third-party information with our own data to offer more relevant products or advertising. Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience only—we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 To Provide Services

We use your information to process funding applications, verify identity, and communicate with financial partners.

3.2 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

We may use or develop AI and ML models to improve our Services, detect fraud, or enhance performance. Personal information may be used in anonymized or aggregated form to train or refine these models in compliance with law.

3.3 Service Communications

We send account-related notifications, security alerts, and updates essential to your use of our Services.

3.4 Customer Support

We use your information to respond to inquiries, resolve issues, and provide assistance.

3.5 Research and Development

We analyze data to improve our Services, Site design, and performance.

3.6 Personalization

We customize your experience and show content or recommendations based on your preferences.

3.7 Legal and Regulatory Compliance

We process data as required by lending, financial, and consumer protection laws.

3.8 Fraud Prevention and Security

We use personal information to detect and prevent fraud, enforce our Terms, and maintain the integrity of our systems.

3.9 Quality Control

Information may be reviewed for staff training and quality assurance.

3.10 Data Anonymization

We may anonymize and aggregate personal data for research, analytics, or business intelligence purposes.

4. Sharing Your Information

We share information only as needed to deliver our Services or as permitted by law.

4.1 Legal Obligations

We may disclose information when required by law, regulation, or valid legal process, or to protect our rights or property.

4.2 Financing Providers

When you apply for business funding, we share your data with lenders, banks, and financing partners ("Financing Providers") that evaluate your application. These providers may retain your information even if you do not complete a transaction.

4.3 Trusted Third Parties

We may share your information with carefully selected third parties that provide complementary business services, such as accounting, payments, or insurance, but only after you elect to engage with them.

4.4 Service Providers

We engage third-party vendors to support operations such as hosting, marketing, analytics, AI chatbots, security, and customer support. They are contractually required to protect and use your data only as directed.

4.5 Corporate Events

We may transfer information in connection with a merger, acquisition, or financing transaction.

4.6 Advertising Partners

We may share limited, non-identifiable information with advertising platforms to deliver relevant marketing.

4.7 Professional Advisors

We may share data with legal, accounting, and compliance advisors as needed for audits or regulatory purposes.

4.8 With Your Consent

We may share your information for any purpose you authorize.

5. Updating, Accessing, and Deleting Your Information

You can update your account information at any time by logging into your account.

You may request to delete your data by contacting us at [email protected].

We may retain certain data as required by law or for legitimate business purposes, such as fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or regulatory compliance.

Once deleted, we will no longer share your information and will only retain deidentified data for analytics or compliance purposes.

6. Security

We implement commercially reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your information. While no system is completely secure, we continuously monitor and update our protections.

In the event of a data breach, we will notify affected users as required by law.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.

7. Marketing Communications and Opt-Out

You may unsubscribe from marketing emails by following the "unsubscribe" link in any communication or by contacting [email protected].

You may still receive essential service or account-related communications.

We may be required by law to retain certain information even after an opt-out request.

8. California Privacy Notice

This section applies only to California residents and supplements the information above in accordance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).

California residents have the following rights, subject to verification:

• Right to Know: Request details about personal information we collect, use, or disclose.
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to exceptions.
• Right to Opt-Out: Request that we not "sell" or "share" personal data for cross-context behavioral advertising.
• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal data.
• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Data: Limit use of sensitive information to necessary purposes.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Exercise your rights without discrimination.

To exercise your rights, contact [email protected]. We will verify your identity before processing your request and respond as required by law.

We do not knowingly sell personal information for monetary compensation, but we may share limited information with partners for analytics or advertising in a way that may constitute "sharing" under the CCPA.

We do not knowingly collect data from individuals under 18 years old.

9. Special Notice to Vermont Residents

We will not share nonpublic personal information about Vermont residents except as permitted by law, to service providers performing services on our behalf, or with your consent.

10. Notification of Privacy Policy Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect operational, legal, or regulatory changes. If material changes are made, we will notify you by posting an updated version on the Site. The "Effective Date" above indicates the most recent revision.

11. Children's Privacy

Our Site and Services are intended for adults and are not directed toward individuals under 18 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we learn that we have received information from a child under 18, we will delete it promptly.

12. Contact Information

For questions or to exercise your privacy rights, please contact:

Email: [email protected]