Identity Theft Hits Bank Of Ireland Customers

The Bank of Ireland has belatedly admitted the identities of 10,000 customers have been stolen.

The bank confirmed on Monday night that laptop computers holding personal details of 10,000 people were stolen last year. It has only now come forward with the information.

The laptops were being used by staff from the bank's life assurance section and held medical backgrounds, bank accounts, names and addresses.

The bank had not ensured the sensitive information was encrypted with secure codes, and now the holders of the laptops have access to potentially lucrative customer details.

The Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes, who was only told about the theft last Friday, is investigating.

In a statement the bank confirmed the thefts and also said customers had not been told laptops with their details had been stolen.

"Four laptops belonging to Bank of Ireland Life were stolen between June and October 2007," it said.

"The appropriate regulators were informed last week. The thefts of the laptops were only brought to the attention of the appropriate authorities in the Bank in the past number of weeks.

"A full internal investigation is under way."

The bank has recently release details of those customers affected by the thefts.

The statement said: "The laptop's contained information relating to some customers who either obtained a quote or took out a Life Assurance policy with Bank of Ireland Life from the following branches; Drogheda, Dunleer, Bagnelstown, Court Place Carlow, Stephens, Tallaght, Montrose."

Anybody who is not a customer of these branches is not affected by this incident.

The bank has since set up a help line for all those customers affected. Call: 1850 365 365 and select the Bank of Ireland Life option. This customer help-line will be open from 9.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday.

(DW/JM)