1. Introduction

Abrus Krishna Finance is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of personal information entrusted to us by our customers, website visitors, and stakeholders.

As a registered lending institution under the Kerala Money-Lenders Act, 1958, we ensure full compliance with:

• Information Technology Act, 2000
• Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011
• Kerala Money-Lenders Act & Rules
• Indian Contract Act, 1872
• Applicable RBI/central-government directives related to digital security
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, store, share, and manage personal information in connection with our lending operations, website, and associated services.

2. Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to:

• Customers applying for any loan (Gold Loan, Micro Business Loan, Micro Personal Loan, Home Loan, Micro Finance, Doorstep Gold Loan, Consumer Goods Loan)
• Website visitors
• Individuals contacting us through forms, WhatsApp, telephone, or email
• Users registering online for enquiries or services
• Individuals participating in marketing campaigns

This policy does not apply to third-party websites linked externally.

3. Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary for lawful lending, KYC compliance, statutory record-keeping, and service improvement.

3.1. Personal Identification Information

• Name
• Father’s/Mother’s/Spouse’s name (where relevant)
• Date of birth / age
• Gender

3.2. Official KYC Information

(as per KML Act & KYC norms)

• Aadhaar
• PAN
• Driving License
• Voter ID
• Passport
• Ration Card
• Any other government-issued ID

3.3. Contact Information

• Address (permanent and current)
• Phone number
• Email ID

3.4. Financial Information

• Bank account details
• Income details (salary, pension, business, daily wages)
• Cashflow details
• Business ownership details
• Bank statements (where applicable)

3.5. Loan-Related Information

• Loan application details
• Purpose of loan
• Pledge/asset details (for Gold Loans)
• Repayment behaviour
• Transaction history
• Payment receipts
• Outstanding balances

3.6. Automatically Collected Website Information

Through cookies and analytics:

• IP address
• Device type
• Browser type
• Pages visited
• Duration of visit
• Click tracking data

No sensitive payment information is collected on the website.

4. How We Use Your Information

Your information is used strictly for lawful and service-related purposes:

4.1. Loan Processing & Verification

• Identity verification
• Address confirmation
• Eligibility assessment
• Income and repayment validation
• Risk profiling as required under KML norms
• Preparation of legally compliant loan agreements

4.2. Statutory Compliance

(Under KML Act & other applicable laws)

• Maintenance of statutory registers
• Documentation audits
• Branch inspection readiness
• Government reporting, if required

4.3. Service Delivery

• Loan disbursement
• Gold valuation & verification
• Secure storage of pledged assets
• Providing statements, receipts, and schedules

4.4. Customer Support & Communication

• Loan reminders
• Renewal eligibility notification
• Service updates
• Customer grievance handling

4.5. Security & Fraud Prevention

• Preventing identity fraud
• Detecting suspicious activities
• Verifying authenticity of documents
• Ensuring compliance with IT security laws

4.6. Website Functionality

• Improving user experience
• Personalising content
• Website analytics and optimisation

5. How We Store & Protect Your Data

We use industry-standard security measures to prevent unauthorized access, modification, or misuse.

5.1. Physical Security

• Restricted access to documents
• Locked storage for files
• CCTV surveillance
• Vault security for gold assets
• Dual-control access protocols

5.2. Digital Security

• Encrypted databases
• Secure servers
• Firewall protection
• Role-based access control
• Regular audit & log monitoring
• Password-protected systems

5.3. Data Retention

We retain data only as long as required:

• By law (KML Act registers)
• For auditing and dispute resolution
• For service continuity

After retention period, data is securely destroyed.

6. Sharing of Information

We do not sell, share, or disclose personal information to unauthorized external parties.

Information may be shared only under these conditions:

6.1. Statutory Authorities

• Police or law enforcement (with proper order)
• Government departments (as legally required)
• Courts/tribunals (upon written direction)

6.2. Internal Operations

• Employees responsible for loan processing
• Compliance officers
• Auditors appointed for statutory audits

6.3. Third-Party Service Providers

Only when necessary and with strict confidentiality:

• IT service vendors
• Gold valuation specialists
• SMS service providers
• Payment processing partners

No third party is allowed to use customer information for non-authorized purposes.

7. Your Rights as a Customer

You have the right to:

• Access your own data
• Request corrections in personal information
• Ask for copies of agreements or receipts
• Seek details of interest calculations
• Raise grievances or complaints at any time
• Understand the basis of loan eligibility
• Request deletion of data (post legal retention period)

We will respond to all requests within the timelines allowed by law.

8. Cookies & Website Usage

Our website may use:

• Essential cookies (for functionality)
• Analytical cookies (for improving services)
• Performance cookies

You may disable cookies in your browser, but certain features may not work optimally.

No harmful or intrusive cookies are used.

9. Minor’s Privacy

We do not knowingly collect information from individuals below 18 years of age.
Loan services cannot be availed by minors.

10. Links to External Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party sites.
We are not responsible for:

• Their privacy policies
• Their content
• Their data handling practices

Users should review the privacy policies of external sites independently.

11. Changes to This Policy

Abrus Krishna Finance reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect:

• New legal requirements
• Changes in business policies
• Updates in security practices
• Introduction of digital services

Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.