The Equity Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Last Updated: September 2026

Introduction: Effingham Equity ("The Equity," "we," "our," or "us") operates this website and related services. Although we do business under the name The Equity, all references to "The Equity" throughout these Terms of Use and Privacy Policy refer to Effingham Equity. By accessing or using this website, you agree to these Terms of Use and acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with these terms, please discontinue use of this website. This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our website, digital communications, text messaging programs, products, services, and other interactions with customers and visitors.

Terms of Use

Use of Website: The Equity provides this website for informational, educational, customer service, and business purposes. You may access, view, download, and print materials from this website for personal and non-commercial use, provided all copyright, trademark, and proprietary notices remain intact. You agree to use this website only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not interfere with the operation of the website or another person's use of the website.

Membership and Customer Relationships: Certain products, services, programs, promotions, financing arrangements, patron relationships, customer accounts, grain contracts, energy contracts, credit services, and other business activities offered by The Equity may require additional agreements, applications, disclosures, or terms and conditions. Where applicable, those additional agreements shall govern the specific product or service and may supplement these Terms of Use.

Prohibited Activities: You agree not to:

  • Violate any applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation.
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the website, systems, servers, accounts, or networks associated with The Equity.
  • Introduce viruses, malware, ransomware, or other harmful code.
  • Use automated tools, robots, spiders, scraping technologies, or similar methods to access or collect information from the website without authorization.
  • Interfere with or disrupt website functionality or security.
  • Use the website to transmit unlawful, defamatory, threatening, harassing, abusive, obscene, or otherwise objectionable content.
  • Impersonate The Equity, its employees, representatives, customers, or any other individual or entity.
  • Use the website in a manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the website or its supporting systems.

Intellectual Property: All website content, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, trademarks, service marks, photographs, videos, designs, software, and other materials, is the property of The Equity or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. No content may be copied, reproduced, distributed, modified, displayed, transmitted, published, or otherwise used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from The Equity.

User Submissions: Any feedback, suggestions, comments, ideas, photographs, testimonials, or other information voluntarily submitted through this website may be used by The Equity without restriction and without obligation to compensate the submitting party. You represent that any information provided by you does not violate the rights of any third party and may legally be shared with The Equity.

Third-Party Websites: This website may contain links to external websites provided for convenience and informational purposes. The Equity does not control, endorse, or guarantee the content, accuracy, privacy practices, or availability of third-party websites and is not responsible for any damages or losses related to their use.

Website Availability: The Equity reserves the right to modify, suspend, restrict, or discontinue any portion of the website at any time without notice. We do not guarantee uninterrupted access to the website and are not responsible for delays, interruptions, outages, or technical issues beyond our control.

Disclaimer of Warranties: THIS WEBSITE AND ALL CONTENT PROVIDED THROUGH THE WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE EQUITY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. The Equity does not guarantee that website content will be accurate, complete, current, secure, error-free, or uninterrupted.

Limitation of Liability: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE EQUITY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE USE OF THIS WEBSITE OR ANY CONTENT PROVIDED THROUGH THE WEBSITE. This limitation applies regardless of the theory of liability, including contract, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise.

Indemnification: You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless The Equity and its directors, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses arising out of your violation of these Terms or your misuse of the website.

Governing Law: These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any legal action arising from or relating to these Terms or the use of this website shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction located in Illinois.

Changes to Terms: The Equity may revise these Terms of Use at any time. Updated terms will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Your continued use of the website following the posting of updates constitutes acceptance of those changes.

Privacy Policy

Our Commitment to Privacy: The Equity respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information entrusted to us. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information obtained through our website, products, services, communications, and business operations.

Information We Collect: Depending on your interaction with The Equity, we may collect:

  • Name
  • Mailing address
  • Email Address
  • Telephone number
  • Business, farm, or company information
  • Customer account information
  • Purchase, transaction, and service history
  • Financial or credit-related information necessary to provide products or services
  • Information submitted through forms, surveys, contests, promotions, scholarship applications, or customer inquires
  • Website usage information such as browser type, operating system, device information, IP address, and pages visited

Information We Collect: Depending on your interaction with The Equity, we may collect:

  • Provide products and services
  • Process transactions and maintain customer accounts
  • Respond to questions, comments, or requests
  • Deliver customer service and support
  • Improve products, services, and website functionality
  • Communicate important account, operational, or service information
  • Provide educational, promotional, or marketing communications
  • Conduct surveys and gather feedback
  • Analyze website usage and user engagement
  • Prevent fraud and maintain security
  • Comply with legal, regulatory, account, and business obligations

Cookies and Website Analytics: Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve website performance, understand visitor activity, and enhance user experiences. Cookies may collect information about pages visited, user preferences, browser type, and device information. You may configure your browser settings to reject cookies. Some website features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

Text Messaging (SMS) Communications: The Equity may offer SMS or text messaging communications to customers and employees related to customer or employment matters, products, services, promotions, educational content, events, operational updates, workplace communications, and other business-related communications. Message frequency may vary based on the customer or employee communications selected or required. Message and data rates may apply depending upon your wireless carrier and service plan. Consent to receive marketing text messages is not a condition of purchasing products or services from The Equity or of employment with The Equity. SMS opt-in data, consent information, and mobile phone numbers collected from customers or employees for SMS communications will not be sold, rented, shared, or otherwise disclosed to third parties or affiliates for their marketing purposes. We may share customer or employee information with service providers, telecommunications providers, messaging platforms, and technology vendors solely as necessary to provide and support SMS communications on behalf of The Equity.

Information Sharing: The Equity does not sell personal information. We may share information with trusted third parties that assist in supporting our operations, including:

  • Information technology providers
  • Website hosting providers
  • Payment processors
  • Communication and marketing service providers
  • Professional advisors, including legal and accounting providers
  • Regulatory agencies, government authorities, or law enforcement when required by law

Such providers may access information only as necessary to perform services on our behalf and are expected to safeguard that information appropriately.

Data Security: The Equity maintains reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, or destruction. While we take reasonable precautions, no method of data transmission or storage can guarantee complete security.

Data Retention: The Equity retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill business, legal, regulatory, operational, or contractual requirements. Information that is no longer necessary may be deleted, anonymized, or otherwise disposed of in accordance with our record retention practices.

Children's Privacy: This website is not intended for children under the age of 13, and The Equity does not knowingly collect personal information from children through this website.

Your Choices: You may request updates or corrections to personal information maintained by The Equity, subject to applicable legal requirements. You may also choose to unsubscribe from marketing email communications through the unsubscribe mechanism included within those communications.

Changes to This Privacy Policy: The Equity reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will become effective when posted to this page. Continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

Contact Us: If you have questions regarding these Terms of Use, this Privacy Policy, or The Equity's information handling practices, please use the Contact Us form available on The Equity website. The Contact Us form is the preferred method for submitting questions, privacy-related requests, corrections, concerns, complaints, or inquiries regarding this policy.

By using this website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.