How we handle your information

1. Who we are

Virtue Loans ("Virtue Loans," "we," "us," or "our") is a mortgage brokerage that helps families across the United States become homeowners. This Privacy Policy applies to www.virtueloans.com, our landing pages, lead forms, event registrations, and any interactions you have with us by phone, text, email, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Instagram Direct.

We are licensed to originate residential mortgage loans. Some of the information we collect is non-public personal information subject to the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ("GLBA"). This policy is designed to satisfy both the GLBA Privacy Notice requirements and our obligations under state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act / CPRA and similar laws.

2. Information we collect

Information you give us directly

• Contact details: name, email address, phone number, mailing address, preferred language (English / Spanish).
• Financial and loan-application information: income, employment, assets, liabilities, credit history consent, target purchase price, down payment, Social Security Number (only when needed to pull credit or submit an application, and only through secure channels — never through a web form or email).
• Homebuying goals: timeline, target state/county/city, first-time buyer status, program interests (grants, down-payment assistance, FHA/VA/Conventional/DSCR/Construction).
• Communications: messages you send us through forms, email, SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct, or our scheduling tools.

Information we collect automatically

• Device and usage data: IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URL, pages viewed, time on page, and similar analytics.
• Cookies and similar technologies: see the Cookies section below.
• Advertising events: when you click a Virtue Loans ad on Facebook, Instagram, Google, or another platform and land on our site, we may receive click-through information (campaign, placement, identifier).

Information we receive from third parties

• Meta Lead Ads / Instant Forms: if you submit a lead form inside Facebook or Instagram, Meta shares the information you entered with us (typically name, email, phone, and your answers).
• Credit bureaus and verification services: with your consent, we obtain credit reports, asset verification, and identity verification through industry-standard vendors.
• Lender partners: we receive status updates on loans we submit on your behalf.
• Public records and marketing databases: in limited cases, for outreach or to verify information you provided.

3. How we use your information

• Respond to your inquiries and provide the mortgage services you requested.
• Pre-qualify you, research grant and down-payment-assistance programs, and submit applications to lender partners.
• Communicate with you by phone, SMS, email, WhatsApp, Messenger, or Instagram Direct about your file, appointments, or program updates (always with a way to opt out).
• Send educational content and invitations to webinars or in-person events you have opted into.
• Measure the performance of our marketing (ads, emails, events) and improve our website and services.
• Detect fraud, protect our customers, and comply with federal and state laws — including mortgage licensing, anti-money-laundering, and consumer-protection requirements.

4. How we share your information

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as needed to provide our services and as described below:

• Lender partners and processors who underwrite, process, or fund the loan you applied for.
• Service providers that help us operate — for example, CRM, scheduling, email, SMS, document signing, analytics, hosting, and advertising platforms.
• Government authorities and regulators when required by law, subpoena, court order, or in connection with mortgage-licensing oversight.
• Business transfers in the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets — with the same commitments reflected here.
• With your consent, for anything else.

5. Meta Platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp)

Virtue Loans runs advertising, lead generation, and customer messaging on Meta platforms. Because of that, some data flows through Meta:

• Meta Pixel & Conversions API (CAPI): we use these tools to measure the performance of our ads and to show more relevant ads to people who might benefit from our services. They transmit information such as page visits, button clicks, form submissions, and a hashed version of identifiers you provide (for example, a hashed email). We do not transmit Social Security Numbers, credit information, or full account numbers through these tools.
• Meta Lead Ads / Instant Forms: when you submit a form inside Facebook or Instagram, the data you provided is shared with Virtue Loans as the advertiser.
• Instagram Business: we respond to comments, DMs, and mentions through the Instagram Graph API. Messages and comments you send us are visible to Virtue Loans.
• Messenger & WhatsApp Business: if you message us on Messenger or WhatsApp, we receive the messages, your display name, and the metadata Meta provides to businesses. WhatsApp messages may be end-to-end encrypted between you and our devices; we keep them only as long as needed to help you.
• Custom Audiences: we may upload hashed contact information (email or phone) to Meta to build audiences for our own campaigns. Meta matches these against its users on a hashed basis.

Meta's own privacy practices are governed by the Meta Privacy Policy. You can adjust your ad preferences in Facebook under Settings & Privacy → Settings → Ads.

6. Cookies and tracking

We use first-party cookies to make the site work (remembering your language preference, for example) and third-party cookies for analytics and advertising. The main third parties are:

• Meta (Facebook Pixel) — advertising and conversion measurement
• Google Analytics and Google Ads — traffic analytics and conversion measurement
• Calendly — appointment scheduling
• Netlify — website hosting and forms

You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking advertising cookies will not stop ads from showing, but those ads may be less relevant.

7. Online advertising and your choices

You can opt out of interest-based advertising through industry programs:

• Digital Advertising Alliance: optout.aboutads.info
• Network Advertising Initiative: optout.networkadvertising.org
• Your Online Choices (EU): youronlinechoices.eu

To unsubscribe from our marketing emails, click the unsubscribe link in any email. To stop SMS/WhatsApp messages, reply STOP. Transactional messages related to an active loan file may continue as required to service your loan.

8. How long we keep your information

We keep loan-application records for the period required by federal and state lending laws (generally at least 25 months after the action date, and longer for funded loans). Marketing information is kept only as long as you are engaged with us or as required by applicable law. You can ask us to delete non-regulated information at any time — see Your rights.

9. Your rights and choices

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Access a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correct information that is inaccurate.
• Delete personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.
• Opt out of marketing communications and of the sale or sharing of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising (we do not sell personal information).
• Withdraw consent you previously gave.
• Appeal a denied request.

To exercise any of these rights, email samwell@virtueloans.com with the subject line "Privacy Request" or use our Data Deletion page. We will verify your identity before acting on the request. California residents can designate an authorized agent.

10. Security

We use reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your information — encryption in transit, access controls, and secure document portals for sensitive loan documentation. No system is perfectly secure; please do not send Social Security Numbers, account numbers, or copies of IDs by email or text. Use the secure upload link we provide.

11. Children

Our services are for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has given us information, email us and we will delete it.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy. When we do, we will change the "Last updated" date at the top. Material changes will be announced on the home page. Your continued use of our services after a change means you accept the updated policy.

13. Contact us

Questions, requests, or complaints:

Virtue Loans
Email: samwell@virtueloans.com
Phone: (201) 551-8363
Web: www.virtueloans.com