Bluestone Bank accidentally exposed the personal information of 7,605 customers due to an administrative error. The bank, based in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, reported the breach to the Maine Attorney General’s office.
What Happened?
On February 28th, sensitive customer data was mistakenly sent to the wrong person. This included names, addresses, social security numbers, and account numbers. The bank claims the recipient signed a certificate confirming the data was destroyed and not retained.
Bank’s Response
Bluestone Bank says it has taken steps to prevent future incidents, including retraining staff on proper data handling and improving its security protocols. To help protect customers, the bank is offering 18 months of free identity monitoring services. Customers can also choose to close and reopen their accounts as an added precaution.
The Bottom Line
This incident highlights the risks associated with data breaches, even those caused by seemingly simple errors. Bluestone Bank, which had $1.5 billion in assets as of November 2024, is working to mitigate the damage and prevent similar incidents in the future.
