This Privacy Policy explains how Cornerstone Payments NC ("Cornerstone," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects information when you visit our website, submit an inquiry, or use our payment processing services in North Carolina and the surrounding region.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

Information you give us. Name, business name, email address, phone number, and any details you include in messages submitted through our contact form or by email.
Merchant onboarding information. If you become a customer, we collect the information required to underwrite and enable payment processing, including business ownership details, tax identification, banking information for settlement, and processing volume estimates.
Automatically collected information. Basic technical information from your device and browser, such as IP address, referring page, and general usage patterns on this website.

2. How We Use Information

Respond to inquiries and provide quotes.
Onboard and support merchants, including underwriting, equipment setup, and account servicing.
Comply with card network rules, banking partner requirements, and applicable law.
Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents.
Improve our website, marketing, and customer experience.

3. Card and Payment Data

Cornerstone Payments NC does not store cardholder data on our website. Card transactions are processed by PCI-DSS validated payment processors and gateways through certified terminals and software. Sensitive cardholder data is handled by those processors under industry-standard encryption and tokenization.

4. How We Share Information

We share information only as needed to run our business, including with:

Sponsor banks, processors, and card networks that support your merchant account.
Equipment vendors and gateway providers used to deliver services you request.
Service providers that help us operate our website, communications, and back-office systems.
Government agencies, law enforcement, or other parties when required by law or to protect our rights.

We do not sell personal information.

5. Data Retention

We keep information only as long as needed to provide services, meet legal, tax, and card network recordkeeping obligations, and resolve disputes. Merchant records are typically retained for the life of the account plus any period required by our banking partners and applicable law.

6. Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the information we hold. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Choices

You may opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link or by contacting us. You may also request access to, correction of, or deletion of your information, subject to any records we are required to retain.

8. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for businesses and their authorized representatives. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

10. Contact Us

Questions about this policy? Email sales@cornerstonepaymentsnc.com.