Bank’s priority customers’ data compromised?

Friday, 14 July 2017 00:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In an apparent serious breach of confidentiality, a leading private sector bank has mistakenly alleged to have compromised data of its priority customers.

Customers told the Daily FT that on Wednesday they received an email from the bank listing “exclusive offers” on consumer electronics from an online retail store. However, the same email had an exhaustive Excel sheet attached containing alleged details of priority customers.

Usually priority customers are business leaders, Chairmen, CEOs, high net worth individuals, professionals, politicians and celebrities. Whilst some found the bulky email in the spam folder of their emails, the curious customers who had seen the Excel sheet and downloaded it were aghast and had alerted the bank apart from spreading the word around with concern.

“This is a serious blunder caused by human error or otherwise,” an angry customer complained.

After realising or being alerted to the grave error, the bank after an hour later from sending the email, had endeavoured to immediately recall the original email.

Some IT experts said such recall and option to delete unread email was complex especially on web based emails. Most of the priority banking clients usually give their private emails.

Banking industry analysts said that the breach of confidentiality of customer information is serious and requires action by the Central Bank as well as the Board and shareholders of bank.