Privacy Policy

Last Updated: June 19, 2026

1. Introduction

Tether-Zero is a personal finance service operated by SpringThought, LLC, doing business as "Tether-Zero" ("SpringThought," "Tether-Zero," "we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and helping you understand how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information.

This Privacy Policy describes our practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of information when you use our website, web application, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By accessing or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our Service.

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Information: Your name, email address, and password when you create an account.
Profile Information: Optional details such as profile picture and preferences.
Mobile Phone Number: If you enable SMS-based security codes or alerts, we collect the mobile phone number you provide and your consent to receive text messages.
Financial Connections: When you link a financial account, the account and transaction information made available through our bank-connection provider (see Third-Party Applications and Integrations).
Communications: Information you provide when you contact support, respond to surveys, or participate in promotions.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

Device Information: Hardware model, operating system and version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.
Log Information: IP address, browser type, referring/exit pages, pages viewed, and other usage and browsing behavior.
Location Information: General location derived from your IP address.
Usage Information: How you interact with the Service, including features used and the time, frequency, and duration of activities.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

Authentication Providers: If you register or log in using a third-party service (such as Google), we receive information from that service as permitted by your settings.
Bank-Connection Provider: Account and transaction data you authorize us to access through Plaid.
Analytics Partners: Aggregated analytics data that helps us understand how users interact with our Service.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Create and manage your account.
Provide, maintain, and improve the Service.
Send transactional text messages and account alerts you have requested.
Process transactions and send related information.
Provide customer support and respond to your requests.
Send technical notices, updates, security alerts, and administrative messages.
Detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent or illegal activity.
Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

Service Providers: With third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, such as cloud hosting, bank connectivity, analytics, and customer support. They may use your information only to perform those services for us.
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
Legal Requirements: When required by law or in response to valid legal requests.
With Your Consent: When you give us explicit consent to share.

5. Mobile Messaging Compliance

Tether-Zero operates a mobile messaging program to send transactional text alerts to registered users.

Opt-In Consent: Mobile phone numbers collected for SMS consent will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Your consent is specific to Tether-Zero and will not be sold, rented, or shared.
Information Sharing: No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
Opt-Out: You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Just text "STOP" to our toll-free number +1 (855) 529-5178. After you send the SMS message "STOP" to us, we will send you an SMS message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed.

For help, reply HELP or contact us at support@tether-zero.com. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.

6. Third-Party Applications and Integrations

To provide certain features, Tether-Zero integrates with trusted third-party service providers. These providers receive only the information necessary to perform their services and are obligated to protect it.

6.1 Plaid

We use Plaid Inc. ("Plaid") to connect your financial accounts and securely access account and transaction information from your financial institutions. When you link an account, you provide your credentials directly to Plaid; Tether-Zero does not receive or store your online banking login credentials. Plaid's collection and use of your information is governed by the Plaid End User Privacy Policy, available at https://plaid.com/legal/. By connecting an account, you authorize us and Plaid to access and use this information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and Plaid's policy.

6.2 Unsplash

We use Unsplash to provide optional images, such as cover photos for savings goals. When images are served from Unsplash, your browser may send standard technical information (such as your IP address and device or browser type) to Unsplash. Unsplash's handling of this information is governed by the Unsplash Privacy Policy, available at https://unsplash.com/privacy.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including to provide the Service and to satisfy legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

When your personal information is no longer necessary for these purposes, we will securely delete or anonymize it. You may request deletion of your account and associated data at any time as described in this Policy.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures designed to protect your personal information, including:

Encryption: Industry-standard encryption (TLS/SSL) to protect data in transit.
Access Controls: Access to personal information is limited to personnel who need it to perform their roles.
Infrastructure Security: Systems are hosted on secure cloud infrastructure with regular security reviews.

No method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

9. Your California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act ("CCPA"), provides you with specific rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Know: You may request that we disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected, the sources of that information, the purposes for collecting it, and the categories of third parties with whom we share it.
Right to Delete: You may request that we delete personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
Right to Correct: You may request that we correct inaccurate personal information we maintain about you.
Right to Opt Out of Sale or Sharing: We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.
Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights.

We do not sell or share the personal information of consumers, including the mobile phone numbers and SMS opt-in data of our users. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@tether-zero.com. We will verify your request before fulfilling it and may ask you to provide information to confirm your identity. You may also designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not directed to individuals under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information without parental consent, please contact us at privacy@tether-zero.com.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date above and, where appropriate, notify you by email or through a notice on our Service.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

SpringThought, LLC (Tether-Zero)

Email: privacy@tether-zero.com