Information for Banks -
U.S. Department of Treasury Ruling
A new ruling (FIN-2009-R003) by the United States Department of Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network or Fin CEN, issued on November 3, 2009, allows financial institutions to use another contact address designated by the Safe at Home program as the contact address instead of the actual residence address of the Safe at Home participant. For more information on this ruling, please refer to the Department of Treasury Memo at www.fincen.gov/statutes_regs/guidance/pdf/fin-2009-r003.pdf.
Suggested Procedures:
- The financial institution representative should complete the following steps prior to using the Safe at Home "contact" address in lieu of a participant's residence address:
- The participant must present his or her Safe at Home ID card or certificate of enrollment.
- Before you call our office for the Safe at Home "contact" address information, the participant must indicate that he or she wants to use the Safe at Home street address in lieu of his or her residence address.
- Verify that the participant has an "active" status in the program by contacting Safe at Home at (877) 322-5227 (weekdays 8 am to 5 pm).
- For security reasons, Safe at Home staff will ask to speak to the participant so that he or she may grant the release of information to you.
Additional information:
- Safety and security:
- The purpose of the Safe at Home program is to protect the whereabouts of victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault.
- A Safe at Home participant’s information should not be released or sold to third parties without the approval of the participant.
- How to use the Safe at Home "contact" address
and the participant's Safe at Home mailing address:
- The "contact" street address provided by Safe at Home can only be used by financial institutions.
- The "contact" street address should not be used as a mailing address, but should be used in lieu of the residence address, only.
- The Safe at Home P.O. Box address, including the participant's Safe at Home four digit ID number (as seen on the participant's ID card), should be used to send mail to the participant.
- A participant's active status is required:
- Only Active participants can use the Safe at Home P.O. Box or designated “contact” street address.
- If a participant is no longer active in the program, he or she is not eligible for Safe at Home program benefits and the Secretary of State does not receive service of process or mail on their behalf.
- Safe at Home's mail delivery procedures:
- Mail that is sent to the participant’s Safe at Home P.O. Box is forwarded to the participant’s actual physical address.
- If a participant’s mail is returned to Safe at Home, staff will contact the participant by phone to verify any address change or problems with their mail delivery.
If you need more information, please contact Safe at Home at (916) 653-1769 or toll free (877) 322-5227.
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