CB says further probe on ‘leakage’ of HNB customer info
View(s):Sri Lanka’s Central Bank (CB) said this week that it was further investigating the ‘leakage’ of confidential customer information by the Hatton National Bank and action is to be taken against those responsible.
The information, in which details of bank accounts of several high-net HNB customers were received by email to other customers, shocked the banking sector urging calls for better safeguards and stringent action against the leakage of confidential customer details.
In a statement on Thursday, HNB said the account details of some priority banking customers have “inadvertently been compromised by a promotional mailer sent to the priority banking customers on July 12.”
The CB, issuing a statement on Monday, said the matter is further investigated by the banking regulator and HNB.
“The Central Bank wishes to inform the general public that a preliminary investigation was conducted by the CB and as per the information available at present, it appears that this incident had occurred inadvertently relating to certain banking information of 4,630 customers. It is also observed that this incident is attributable to internal lapses in managing and using customer information within HNB,” it said in a media statement.
The CB said interim supervisory measures have already been initiated to take action against those who are responsible for the incident in terms of legal provisions as well as relevant supervisory standards.
HNB said that it has withdrawn the promotional e-mail (in question) and the Board of Directors and the management has initiated an internal investigation on this issue.
“We are directly in touch with the customers and certain safety measures have already been taken to safeguard the interest of the customers. We have also kept the Central Bank informed of the measures taken. HNB allocates highest priority to this issue and regrets any inconvenience caused to its esteemed customers due to this inadvertent information release. The bank will do its utmost to safeguard the interest of the affected customers,” it said.