On November 22, 2023, Tri Counties Bank filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Maine after discovering that its computer system had been infected with malware. In this notice, TCBK explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, state identification numbers, financial account information, medical information, health insurance information, dates of birth and more. Upon completing its investigation, TCBK began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.
If you receive a data breach notification from Tri Counties Bank, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, financial institutions have a legal duty to protect your confidential information. Banks and credit unions that fail to take the necessary precautions to protect against a data breach may be financially liable to victims. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the Tri Counties Bank data breach.
What Caused the Tri Counties Bank Data Breach?
The Tri Counties Bank data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, TCBK’s filing with the Attorney General of Maine provides some important information on what led up to the breach. Tri Counties Bank also posted a website notice that provides additional details.
According to these sources, on February 7, 2023, TCBK detected suspicious activity within its computer network. In response, TCBK informed law enforcement, shut down all networked systems and launched an investigation.
The TCBK investigation confirmed the presence of malware on the bank’s internal network. As a result, between February 7, 2023 and February 8, 2023, an unauthorized actor was able to access certain files on TCBK’s network that contained confidential information belonging to employees and customers.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Tri Counties Bank reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. Tri Counties Bank completed this process on October 9, 2023. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, Social Security number, driver’s license number, state identification number, financial account information, medical information, health insurance information, date of birth, passport number, digital or electronic signature, tax identification number, access credentials, and mother’s maiden name.
On October 12, 2023, Tri Counties Bank sent out data breach letters to all customers and employees impacted by the incident. However, after conducting further investigation, TCBK determined that additional parties were affected. And on November 22, 2023, TCBK sent out a second round of data breach letters.
More Information About Tri Counties Bank
Established in 1975, Tri Counties Bank is a financial institution based in Chico, California. TCBK provides traditional banking products and services, such as checking and savings accounts, auto loans, personal loans, credit cards, mortgages and business banking services. Tri Counties Bank operates more than 50 branches in California and offers customers access to over 40,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Tri Counties Bank employs more than 1,100 people and generates approximately $402 million in annual revenue.
