Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to FinanceBuddy ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal and financial information remains completely secure.

This Privacy Policy explains how FinanceBuddy handles your information. FinanceBuddy is an offline-first personal finance application. All data created, parsed, or processed within the app remains strictly on your local device. We do not collect, store, transmit, or share your personal or financial data on external servers.

2. Information We Process (Local-Only)

FinanceBuddy allows you to track income, daily expenses, bank accounts, mobile financial services (MFS), loans, investments, and savings goals. All data is processed locally on your device and stored securely in an encrypted local database (AES-256).

3. Permissions Used by the App

FinanceBuddy requests specific Android device permissions solely to provide core app functionality:

• 1. READ_SMS / RECEIVE_SMS (Optional)

  Purpose: Automatically detect financial transaction SMS messages to assist you in logging expenses and incomes easily.

  Privacy Commitment: SMS data is analyzed locally and never leaves your phone.

• 2. USE_BIOMETRIC / USE_FINGERPRINT (Optional)

  Purpose: To secure the app with your device's biometric authentication (fingerprint/face lock).

  Privacy Commitment: Biometric data is handled entirely by your Android device’s operating system. FinanceBuddy never stores or has access to your raw biometric data.

• 3. POST_NOTIFICATIONS (Optional)

  Purpose: To display local reminders for pending SMS transactions, budget alerts, and scheduled payments.

4. How We Use Your Information

Because all information remains local to your device, your data is used exclusively to:

• Render your financial dashboard, balance overview, graphs, and transaction history.
• Calculate budget limits, spending trends, and loan repayments.
• Notify you locally about unconfirmed SMS transactions or upcoming payment dues.

5. Third-Party Data Sharing & Cloud Storage

• Zero Remote Servers: We do not own, operate, or connect to any cloud databases or external servers.
• Zero Third-Party Tracking / Ads: FinanceBuddy contains no third-party ad networks, analytics SDKs, or tracking tools (e.g., Google Analytics for Firebase, Facebook SDK, or AdMob).
• No Data Selling: We do not sell, rent, trade, or transfer any user data to third parties under any circumstances.

6. Data Storage & Security

• Encryption: All local databases are protected using AES-256 encryption (Room SQLite).
• Security Features: The app provides built-in 6-digit PIN and Biometric Lock options to prevent unauthorized physical access to your app.
• User Ownership: You retain total ownership of your data.

7. Data Retention & Deletion

• In-App Deletion: You can delete any account, transaction, goal, or payee directly inside the app at any time.
• Complete Erasure: Uninstalling the FinanceBuddy app from your Android device immediately and permanently deletes all stored financial data and settings from your device.

8. Children’s Privacy

FinanceBuddy is a general-audience financial management tool and is not intended for or directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly process or request any information from children.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect app updates or regulatory changes. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Effective Date."