Waari

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: March 1, 2025  |  Last Updated: March 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how Waari LLC collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information. As a financial services company we are required by law to collect and retain certain information. We will never sell your data to advertisers.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

CategoryData CollectedWhy Required
IdentityFull legal name, date of birth, residential addressKYC / BSA legal requirement
Government IDPhoto ID scan (front & back), selfie / liveness checkKYC identity verification
Tax IDLast 4 digits of SSNFinCEN / IRS compliance
ContactEmail address, US phone numberAccount access, 2FA, notifications
PaymentBank account (via Plaid), card (tokenized via Stripe — never stored by Waari)Payment processing
Plaid DataBank account ownership, balance, risk signal, consent recordFraud prevention, ACH authorization
RecipientsName, country, mobile number, mobile money operatorTransfer delivery
Pari GroupsGroup name, member list, contribution history, rotation schedulePari product operation
TransactionsAmount, currency, destination, timestamp, payment method, reference numberService delivery, BSA recordkeeping

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

Device type, operating system, browser type, IP address, approximate location, usage data, and transaction metadata — collected for fraud detection, security monitoring, and service improvement.

1.3 Information from Third Parties

2. How We Use Your Information

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 Service Providers

PartnerRoleData Shared
StripeUS payment processingName, email, tokenized card/bank details, transaction amount
PlaidBank verification & fraud preventionBank login (processed by Plaid only), account ownership data
PawapayAfrica mobile money payout & collectionRecipient name, mobile number, amount, country
PersonaKYC identity verificationID documents, selfie, personal details
Comply AdvantageAML / sanctions screeningName, DOB, address, nationality
TwilioSMS & WhatsApp notificationsPhone number, transfer amounts, Pari reminders
Bubble.ioApp platform & database hostingAll user data stored in Bubble database
Stripe TreasuryPari interest-bearing accountsAccount balance, group membership, interest earned

3.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information to government authorities when required by law, including Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed with FinCEN, Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) for transactions over $10,000, and responses to valid legal process such as subpoenas or court orders.

3.3 We Never Sell Your Data

Waari will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to advertisers, data brokers, or any third party for marketing purposes. Your financial data is not a product.

4. Data Retention

Data CategoryRetention PeriodLegal Basis
Transaction records5 years minimumBank Secrecy Act — mandatory
KYC identity records5 years from account closureBSA / FinCEN — mandatory
Plaid consent records5 yearsFraud prevention & dispute resolution
AML screening records5 yearsBSA / FinCEN — mandatory
Marketing preferencesUntil you opt outYour consent

We cannot delete financial transaction or KYC records before the legally mandated retention period, even upon account closure or deletion request.

5. Data Security

If a security breach occurs affecting your personal information, we will notify you within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach as required by applicable law.

6. Your Privacy Rights

California residents have additional rights under CCPA including the right to know, right to delete, and right to non-discrimination. Submit requests to hello@waari.app with "Privacy Request" in the subject line. We respond within 30 days.

7. Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) Notice

As a financial services company, Waari collects nonpublic personal information (NPI) including account application data, transaction information, and identity verification results. We disclose NPI only to service providers who help us provide financial services and to government agencies as required by law. We do not share NPI with non-affiliated third parties for marketing. To limit sharing, email hello@waari.app with "Opt Out of Sharing" in the subject line.

8. Cookies & Tracking

9. Children's Privacy

Waari is not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe a minor has created a Waari account, contact hello@waari.app immediately.

10. International Data Transfers

To deliver transfers to recipients in West Africa, recipient payment data is processed by Pawapay, which operates in multiple countries. This transfer is necessary to provide the service and is protected by data processing agreements. By joining a cross-border Pari group, you consent to international data processing for your contribution data.

11. Changes to This Policy

We will notify you of material changes by email at least 30 days before the effective date and post the updated policy at waari.app/privacy. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

12. Privacy Contact