Connecticut House Bill HB05158

Connecticut 2014 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/18/14
• Refer: 2/18/14

Caption

An Act Prohibiting The Inclusion Of The Entire Account Number On Bank Statements.

Impact

The bill's implementation is expected to have a significant impact on banking practices in the state of Connecticut. Starting October 1, 2014, the requirement will apply to all banks, credit unions, and out-of-state financial institutions operating within the state. This change aims to standardize the approach to account number visibility across different entities and could set a precedent for similar legislation in other states. Supporters of the bill argue that it will increase consumer confidence in financial institutions by safeguarding account holders against negligence in data protection.

Summary

House Bill 05158 aims to enhance the privacy of Connecticut bank account holders by mandating that financial institutions redact all but the last four digits of account numbers on account statements. This legislation is designed to mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access to sensitive financial information. By limiting the visibility of the full account number, the bill seeks to protect individuals from potential identity theft and fraud that could arise from accessing documents that contain this data.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 05158 include concerns from financial institutions regarding the potential costs and logistical challenges of implementing the new requirements. Institutions may need to update their systems and processes to comply with the redaction mandate. Furthermore, there may be debate over whether the reduction of information on statements could inadvertently complicate legitimate financial transactions or oversight tasks. As such, some stakeholders believe a balance must be struck between consumer privacy and operational functionality.