FIRST PIEDMONT

ONLINE BANKING AGREEMENT AND DISCLOSURE

This Online Banking Agreement and Disclosure ("Agreement") describes your rights and obligations as a user of First Piedmont online service or Bill Payment service ("Services"). It also describes the rights and obligations of First Piedmont ("Bank"). Please read this Agreement carefully. By requesting and using one of these Services, you agree to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

  1. Definitions

The following definitions apply in this Agreement:

  1. "Authorized Representative" refers to a person with authority (with respect to the account);
  2. "Bill Payment" is the online service that enables the scheduling of bill payment using a personal computer;
  3. "ISP" refers to your Internet Service Provider;
  4. "Online Banking" is the internet-based service providing access to your Bank account(s);
  5. "Online Account" means the Bank account from which you will be conducting transactions;
  6. "Password" is the customer-generated code selected by you for use during the initial sign-on, or the code you select after the initial sign-on, that establishes your connection to the Service;
  7. "PC" means your personal computer which enables you, with the Internet browser and ISP, to access your Online Account;
  8. "Time of day" references are to Eastern Standard Time;
  9. "User ID" is the Bank-generated identification code assigned to you for your connection to the Service;
  10. "We", "Us", or "Bank" refers to First Piedmont which offers the Services and which holds the accounts accessed by the Services; and
  11. "You or "your" refers to the owner of the account or the authorized representative.

 

  1. Access to Services

    2. First Piedmont provides online help on how to use the Online Banking and Bill Payment Services. You will gain access to your Online Accounts through the use of your Internet-enabled device, your ISP, your Password and your User ID. You may access your Online Accounts 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week. However, availability of the Services may be suspended for brief periods of time for purposes of maintenance, updating and revising the software.

    For purposes of transactions, the Bank’s business days are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays and weekends. All Online Banking transaction requests received after 5:00 p.m. on business days and all transactions which are requested on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays on which the Bank chooses to remain closed, will be processed on the Bank’s next business day. First Piedmont’s business day begins at 9:00 a.m.

  2. Banking Transactions with Online Banking
  1. Account Access. You may view account information maintained under your personal tax ID #.
  2. Transfer of Funds. You may use Online Banking to conduct the transfer of funds. You may make one-time transfers, such as transfers to make loan payments. You may transfer funds among your checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and loan accounts.

    3. NOTE: Because regulations require the Bank to limit preauthorized transfers, limitations apply. This depends on how your account is set up.

  3. Additional Services. New services may be introduced for Online Banking from time to time. The Bank will notify you of the existence of these new services. By using these services when they become available, you agree to be bound by the rules that will be made available to you concerning these services.
  1. Schedule of Fees

    2. First Piedmont offers the benefits and convenience of the Online Banking Service to our customers at no charge.

  2. Statements

    3. You will continue to receive your regular account statement either monthly or quarterly, depending on the type of account.

  3. Use of Your Security Password

You are responsible for keeping your password and Online Account information confidential. In order to protect yourself against fraud, you should adhere to the following guidelines:

If you believe your password has been lost or stolen, or if you suspect any fraudulent activity on your account, call First Piedmont immediately at 864-489-6046 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telephoning us is the best way of minimizing your loss and liability. (See; Section XII)

If you believe your Password has been lost or stolen, please use the Password change feature within the Online Banking section of the Web site to change your Password.

  1. Electronic Mail (E-mail)

If you send the Bank an e-mail message, the Bank will be deemed to have received it on the following business day. You should not rely on e-mail if you need to report an unauthorized transaction from one of your accounts or if you need to stop a payment that is scheduled to occur.

  1. Bill Payment Services
  1. Description of Service. The Bill Payment Service permits you to use your Internet-enabled device to direct payments from your designated online Bill Payment Account to third parties you wish to pay. Through the Bill Payment Service, you can pay bills from your Bill Payment Account to businesses or individuals.

    2. All payments you make will be deducted from the checking account that you designate as your Bill Payment Account for the Bill Payment Service. Any payments you wish to make through this Service must be payable in U.S. dollars to a payee located in the continental United States. We reserve the right to restrict types of payees to whom payments may be made using the Service from time to time. You should not use the Bill Payment Service to make payments to settle securities purchases, payments to interest bearing accounts, tax payments, or court ordered payments. Payments for these payees will be your sole responsibility if delayed or improperly processed or credited.

  2. Scheduling Payments. Funds must be available in your Bill Payment Account on the scheduled payment date. If the date you schedule a payment to be initiated falls on a non-business day (Saturday, Sunday, or holiday), funds must be available in your Bill Payment Account the following business day (e.g. Monday). After funds are withdrawn from your Bill Payment Account to make a payment, we may make the payment either by transferring funds electronically to the payee or by mailing the payee a check.

You may choose to schedule payments to recur in the same amount at regular weekly, monthly, or semi-monthly or quarterly intervals. When you create a new payee in the Bill Payment Service, it takes two (2) business days to set up the payee to receive payments. You should schedule a payment to a new payee at least ten (10) business days before any payment due date to allow us time to set up the payee and verify information about your account with the payee.

For all subsequent payments, you agree to allow at least four (4) to ten (10) business days between the date you schedule a payment to be initiated and the payment due date (that is, the due date shown on your invoice or provided in your agreement with the payee, not taking into account any applicable grace period). If the payment is an Automatic Clearing House (ACH) electronic payment, it will take up to four (4) business days to reach the payee. However, if the company or person that you are paying cannot accept an electronic payment, the Bill Payment Service will send a check that may take up to ten (10) business days. If you do not follow these time frames, you will be fully responsible for all late fees, finance charges or other actions taken by the payee. If you schedule your payment and follow all instructions provided, but the payment is not received by the payee in a timely manner, the Bank will work with the payee on your behalf to reverse any late fees or charges.

C. No Duty to Monitor Payments. The Bank is only responsible for exercising ordinary care in

processing and sending payments upon your authorization in accordance with this Agreement. First Piedmont will not be liable in any way for damages you incur for any of the following

reasons:

If the session during which you schedule a payment or transfer ends by 5:00 p.m., the Bank will be considered to have received it on that day. Otherwise, it will be considered received on the following business day. For all entries made using the Services, the time recorded by the Online Banking Service will be considered the official time of the transaction.

If your Bill Payment Account does not have sufficient funds to make a payment as of the date the payment is debited to your account, the Bill Payment Service will automatically block future Bill Payment Service until the account has sufficient funds to make the payment. Your account will be charged a $29 fee by The Bill Pay Service along with any normal insufficient charges associated with your account with First Piedmont. The Bank will attempt to notify you by e-mail or U.S. Postal Mail, but the Bank shall have no obligation or liability if it does not complete a payment because there are insufficient funds in your account to process a payment. In all cases, you are responsible for contacting the Bill Pay Service at (1-800-823-7555) to either make alternate arrangements for the payment or reschedule the payment through the Service. In the case of fixed payments, only the payment currently scheduled will be impacted. Fixed payments scheduled for future dates will not be affected.

Cancel or Change Payment Instructions. Payments must be changed or canceled using the Service prior to 2:00 p.m. on the business day the transaction is scheduled to be initiated. If you ask us to cancel a payment after it is issued and we agree to do so, we may charge you a stop payment fee. Stop payment orders whether oral, written, or electronic, will be in effect for a period of six (6) months. If requested by the Bank, you will confirm any stop payment order in writing. After six (6) months, any stop payment will terminate and must be renewed in order to continue in effect. The Bank may pay any item that is presented following the lapse of any stop payment order.

E. No Signature required. When any payment or other online Service generates items to be charged

to your account, you agree that we may debit your Bill Payment account without requiring your signature on the item, and without prior notice to you.
  1. Multiple Person Bill Payment Accounts. If more than one person has access to a Bill Payment account, each person may individually enroll in the Bill Pay service. Each enrolled person needs a unique password but may choose to use the same payee list. Each individual may terminate her/his enrollment in the Bill Payment service without affecting the Service for any other person enrolled in that Bill Payment account. However, any enrolled person may terminate the Bill Payment service, which will terminate the service for all enrolled persons on that Bill Payment account.
  1. Linked Accounts

All accounts with the Bank which you enroll in Online Banking service will be linked by the tax identification numbers of the persons authorized to access the accounts. The linked accounts will appear together without regard to the ownership of the accounts. For example, if an authorized user of a linked account accesses the Service, that authorized user may be able to view and access at a single time the following accounts:

  1. Business Accounts

If you are a business, any authorized user of your business is authorized on such terms, conditions, and agreements as we may require to:

  1. Term and Termination
  1. Term. This Agreement will become effective on the Effective Date and shall remain in full force and effect until termination in accordance with the following provisions.
  2. Termination for Cause. We may immediately terminate your electronic banking privileges (including the Bill Payment Service) without notice to you under the following circumstances at our descretion:
    1. you do not pay any fee required by this Agreement when due, or
    2. you do not comply with the agreement governing your deposit or loan accounts, or
    3. your accounts are not maintained in good standing.
    4. you do not log into the service during any consecutive 90 day period.
  1. Termination for Convenience. To terminate this Agreement, you must notify the Bank and provide your name, address, the Service(s) you are discontinuing, and the termination date of the Service(s). When Bill Payment is terminated, any prescheduled bill payments made through Online Banking will also be terminated. Your final charge for the Bill Payment service will be assessed at the end of your statement cycle. You may notify the Bank by one of the following methods:

First Piedmont

1229 W. Floyd Baker Blvd

Gaffney, SC 29341
  1. Electronic Funds Transfer Provisions For Consumers

 

  1. Applicability. These provisions are only applicable to online electronic funds transfers which credit or debit a consumer’s checking, savings or other asset account and are subject to the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation E (an "EFT"). When applicable, the Bank may rely on any exceptions to these provisions which are contained in Regulation E. All terms that are not defined in this Agreement but which are defined in Regulation E shall have the same meaning when used in this section.
  2. Your Liability. The following determines your liability for any unauthorized EFT or any series of related unauthorized EFTs:
    1. If you notify the Bank within two (2) business days after your password is lost or stolen, your liability will not exceed $50.00 or the amount of the unauthorized EFTs that occur before notification, whichever is less
    2. If you fail to notify the Bank within two (2) business days after your password is lost or stolen, your liability will not exceed the lesser of $500.00 or the total of:
    1. You must report an unauthorized EFT which appears on your periodic statement, no later than

      2. 60 days after transmittal of the statement to avoid liability for subsequent transfers. Your liability will not exceed the amount of the unauthorized EFTs that occurred within the 60-day period. You may also be liable for the amounts as described in sections 1 and 2 above.

    2. If the report is made orally, we may require that you send the complaint or question in writing

      3. within 10 business days. We will notify you with the results of the investigation within 10 business days and will correct any error promptly. If more time is needed, however, we may take up to 45 days to investigate a complaint or question. If this occurs, we will credit your account within 10 business days for the amount you think is in error. This will allow you to use the money during the time it takes us to complete our investigation. If your complaint or question is not received in writing within 10 business days, we may not credit your account until the investigation is completed. If an alleged error involves an electronic fund transfer outside a state or territory or possession of the United States, the applicable time periods for action by us are 20 business days (instead of 10) and 90 calendar days (instead of 45). If we determine that no error occurred, we will send you a written explanation within three business days after the investigation is complete. You may request copies of the documents that were used in the investigation.

    3. You may notify the Bank by telephone, writing, or by visiting a branch. Notification by

general e-mail to report an unauthorized transaction is not secure and therefore not advised.
  1. Telephone Numbers and Addresses. In case of errors or questions regarding an Online Banking or

Bill Payment transaction, call (864) 489-6046 or write us at: Attn: Internet Banking Department, 1229 W. Floyd Baker Blvd, Gaffney, SC 29341.

We must hear from you at the telephone number or address listed above no later than 60 days after we sent you the FIRST statement on which the problem or error appeared. We will need:
    1. Your name and account number
    2. A description of the error or the transfer in question and an explanation concerning why you believe it is an error or need more information.
    3. The dollar amount of the suspected error and date on which it occurred.

 

  1. Liability
  1. Our Liability. This section explains our liability to you only to the extent that any other

agreements, notices, or disclosures have not separately disclosed our liability. In no event shall we be liable to you for failure to provide access to your Online Banking or Bill Payment services accounts. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, we are only responsible for performing the Online Banking and Bill Payment services as delineated in this Agreement. We will be liable for the amount of any material losses or damages incurred by you and resulting directly from our gross negligence.

We will not be liable to you in the following instances:

1. If, through no fault of the Bank, you do not have enough money in your account to

make the transfer.

2. If circumstances beyond our control (such as fire, flood, power outage, equipment or

technical failure or breakdown) prevents the transfer despite reasonable precautions

that we have taken.

3. If there is a hold on your account, or if access to your account is blocked, in

accordance with banking policy

4. If your funds are subject to a legal proceeding or other encumbrance restricting the

transfer.

5. If your transfer authorization terminates by operation of law.
  1. 6. If you believe someone has accessed your accounts without your permission and you
  2. fail to notify the Bank immediately.

7. If you have not properly followed the instructions on how to make a transfer.

8. If we have received incomplete or inaccurate information from you or a third party

involving the account or transfer.

9. If we have a reasonable basis for believing that unauthorized use of your Password or

account has occurred, or may be occurring, or if you default under the Agreement, the

deposit account agreement, a credit agreement or any other agreement with us, or if

we or you terminate this Agreement.

IN NO EVENT SHALL WE HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM, OR ARISING OUT OF, THIS AGREEMENT.

 
  1. Indemnification. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold us, our affiliate companies, directors, officers, employees and agents harmless against any third party claim, demand, suit, action or other proceeding and any expenses related to Online Banking or your Bill Payment account.
  1. Third Parties. We are not liable for any loss or liability resulting from any failure of your equipment or software, or that of an internet browser provider such as Netscape (Netscape Navigator browser) or Microsoft (Microsoft Explorer browser), by an internet access provider, or by an online service provider, nor will we be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages resulting from your access to, or failure to access, an Online Banking or Bill Payment account.
  2. Virus Protection. The Bank is not responsible for any electronic virus or viruses that you may encounter. We suggest that you routinely scan your PC using a virus protection product. An undetected virus may corrupt and destroy or allow someone to access your programs, files, and hardware.
  1. General Terms and Conditions
  1. Bank Agreements. In addition to this Agreement, you and First Piedmont agree to be bound by and comply with the requirements of the agreements applicable to each of your Online Accounts. Your use of the Online Banking Service or the Bill Payment Service is your acknowledgment that you have received these agreements and intend to be bound by them. We will automatically deduct any fees related to this Service from your Bill Payment Account each month.
  2. Changes and Modifications. The Bank may modify the terms and conditions applicable to the Online Banking Services from time to time. We may send any notice to you via e-mail and you will be deemed to have received it three days after it is sent. The revised terms and conditions shall be effective at the earliest date allowed by applicable law. We reserve the right to terminate this Agreement and your use of the Services, in whole or in part, at any time without prior notice.
  3. Assignment. We may assign this Agreement to an affiliate of the Bank or any successor in interest in the event of a merger, reorganization, change of control, acquisition or sale of all or substantially all assets of the business to which this Agreement is related without the other party’s prior written consent.
  4. Notices. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, any notice or written communication given pursuant to this Agreement, may be sent to you electronically.
  5. Disclosure of Information. We will only disclose information to third parties about your account or transfers you make under the following circumstances:
  1. Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of SC and applicable federal law.

  

BY CONTINUING WITH THE REGISTRATION, I HEREBY DECLARE AND REPRESENT THAT I HAVE READ THE FOREGOING APPLICATION AND THAT ALL STATEMENTS MADE THEREIN ARE COMPLETE AND TRUE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT INFORMING ME OF MY RIGHTS UNDER THE ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER ACT AND A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT. I AUTHORIZE FIRST PIEDMONT TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION HEREIN AND TO MAKE SUCH ADDITIONAL NORMAL INQUIRIES AS MAY BE RELATED WITH THIS APPLICATION FROM CREDIT BUREAUS AND OTHER SOURCES.