Two large banks, Western Alliance and Peoples Bank, recently experienced data breaches affecting thousands of customers, primarily in Texas. The breaches exposed sensitive personal information, highlighting the ongoing risk of cyberattacks on financial institutions.
Western Alliance Bank Breach
Phoenix-based Western Alliance Bank, boasting nearly $83 billion in assets, reported a data breach impacting at least 1,222 Texans. The exact number of affected customers outside Texas is unknown. Stolen data included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, government IDs, account numbers, credit and debit card numbers, and birthdates. The bank previously reported a separate incident involving a third-party software vulnerability that compromised the information of 21,899 customers. It’s unclear if these incidents are related.
Peoples Bank Breach
Lubbock-based Peoples Bank, with over $1.1 billion in assets, also suffered a data breach affecting 668 Texans. The compromised data included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, account numbers, credit and debit card numbers, medical information, and birthdates.
The Impact
These breaches underscore the vulnerability of even large financial institutions to cyberattacks. The theft of sensitive personal information puts affected customers at significant risk of identity theft and financial fraud. Customers of both banks should remain vigilant and monitor their accounts closely for any suspicious activity.
