Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Lato SACCO Society Limited (“Lato SACCO,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our services, or become a member of our SACCO.

Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access our website or use our services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information You Provide to Us

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

Register for membership with Lato SACCO
Open a savings or loan account
Apply for financial products or services
Contact us for customer support
Participate in our Watano groups
Attend our financial literacy workshops
Subscribe to our newsletters or communications

This information may include:

Identity Information: Full name, date of birth, national ID number, passport number, gender
Contact Information: Physical address, email address, telephone number, mobile number
Financial Information: Bank account details, income information, employment details, business information, credit history
Transaction Information: Details about deposits, withdrawals, loan applications, loan repayments, and other financial transactions
Documentation: Copies of identification documents, proof of residence, business registration documents, tax compliance certificates
Guarantor Information: Details about your Watano group members or other loan guarantors
Next of Kin Information: Emergency contact details and beneficiary information

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing behavior, including:

IP address and location data
Browser type and version
Device type and operating system
Pages visited and time spent on pages
Referring website addresses
Clickstream data

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

Credit reference bureaus (CRBs) for credit assessment
Other financial institutions for verification purposes
Government agencies and regulatory bodies
Your employers (with your consent) for income verification
Business partners and service providers

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

3.1 To Provide Financial Services

Processing membership applications
Opening and managing savings accounts
Processing loan applications and disbursements
Facilitating deposits, withdrawals, and transfers
Managing your Watano group participation
Calculating and distributing dividends
Processing share capital transactions

3.2 To Communicate With You

Sending account statements and transaction confirmations
Providing customer support and responding to inquiries
Sending important notices about your accounts or services
Informing you about changes to our terms, policies, or services
Sending newsletters and promotional materials (with your consent)
Inviting you to financial literacy workshops and community events

3.3 To Ensure Security and Prevent Fraud

Verifying your identity
Detecting and preventing fraudulent transactions
Monitoring for suspicious activity
Complying with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations
Protecting against security threats

3.4 For Regulatory Compliance

Complying with legal obligations under Kenyan law
Meeting SASRA (SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority) requirements
Responding to legal processes and government requests
Maintaining proper records for auditing purposes
Reporting to regulatory authorities as required

3.5 For Business Operations and Improvement

Analyzing usage patterns to improve our services
Conducting research and analytics
Developing new products and services
Training our staff
Managing our relationship with you
Resolving disputes

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties when you give us explicit consent to do so.

4.2 With Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

Payment processing and mobile banking services
IT support and system maintenance
Data storage and cloud services
Marketing and communication services
Debt collection services (for defaulted loans)
Audit and legal services

These service providers are contractually obligated to keep your information confidential and use it only for the purposes we specify.

4.3 With Regulatory Authorities

We may share your information with:

SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA)
Central Bank of Kenya
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)
Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs)
Other regulatory and law enforcement agencies as required by law

4.4 Within Our SACCO Structure

With your Watano group members (limited to information relevant to group operations and loan guarantees)
With our board of directors and management for governance purposes
With our internal audit and compliance teams

4.5 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to:

Comply with legal obligations or court orders
Protect our rights, property, or safety
Protect the rights, property, or safety of our members and the public
Investigate fraud or security issues
Enforce our terms and conditions

4.6 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction, including:

Secure servers and encrypted data transmission
Access controls and authentication procedures
Regular security assessments and updates
Employee training on data protection
Physical security measures at our branches
Secure document storage and disposal procedures
Firewall and antivirus protection
Regular data backups

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

Provide our services to you
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
Maintain accurate financial records

Specific retention periods include:

Membership Records: For the duration of your membership plus 7 years after termination
Transaction Records: Minimum of 7 years as required by law
Loan Records: For the duration of the loan plus 7 years after full repayment
Identification Documents: For the duration of the business relationship plus 7 years
Marketing Communications: Until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent

After the retention period expires, we will securely delete or anonymize your information in accordance with our data disposal procedures.

7. Your Rights

Under Kenyan data protection laws, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Right to Access

You have the right to request copies of your personal information held by us.

7.2 Right to Correction

You have the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.

7.3 Right to Deletion

You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal and regulatory obligations.

7.4 Right to Object

You may object to our processing of your information for direct marketing purposes.

7.5 Right to Restrict Processing

You may request restriction of processing in certain circumstances.

7.6 Right to Data Portability

You may request transfer of your information to another service provider where technically feasible.

7.7 Right to Withdraw Consent

Where we rely on your consent to process information, you may withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in Section 12 below.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us:

Remember your preferences
Understand how you use our website
Improve website functionality
Provide relevant content

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our website.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms and partner organizations. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. However, we do offer Junior Savings Accounts for minors, which must be opened and managed by a parent or legal guardian. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child without proper parental consent, please contact us immediately.

11. Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

Posting the updated policy on our website with a new “Last Updated” date
Sending you an email notification (if you have provided your email address)
Displaying a notice at our branches

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Lato SACCO Society Limited

Head Office:
Musovo Market, Ukasi
Mwingi, Kitui County, Kenya

Email: info@latosacco.co.ke
Phone: +254113718893

Branch Locations:

Ukasi Branch
Nuu Branch
Tseikuru Branch
Kamuwongo Branch

Data Protection Officer:
[Insert DPO Name and Contact Information if applicable]

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

13. Complaints

If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your personal information or if you believe we have violated your privacy rights, you may file a complaint with:

Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC)
P.O. Box 24884-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: info@odpc.go.ke
Website: www.odpc.go.ke

14. Consent

By registering for membership with Lato SACCO, using our services, or providing us with your personal information, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Privacy Policy. You consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this policy.

Thank you for trusting Lato SACCO Society Limited with your financial needs and personal information. We are committed to protecting your privacy while serving you with excellence.