Major Data Breaches Hit Two US Banks: 1,890 Customers' Sensitive Information Exposed

Two prominent U.S. financial institutions have disclosed significant data breaches affecting customers in Texas, with sensitive personal and financial information compromised.

Western Alliance Bank, based in Phoenix, reported a breach impacting 1,222 Texas residents, according to a filing with the Texas Attorney General. The notification didn't specify how many out-of-state customers were affected, leaving the full scope unclear. The exposed data includes comprehensive personal identifiers such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, driver's license details, government ID numbers, account information, payment card details, and birth dates.

With approximately $83 billion in consolidated assets according to Federal Reserve data, Western Alliance Bank revealed in a separate filing with Maine's Attorney General that hackers exploited a vulnerability in third-party file transfer software, potentially affecting 21,899 customers nationwide. It remains uncertain whether these incidents are related.

A second breach involved Texas-based Peoples Bank, exposing data of 668 customers. The compromised information similarly included names, addresses, financial account details, and sensitive identifiers, along with medical information. Peoples Bank holds over $1.1 billion in assets, per Federal Reserve records.

These breaches highlight ongoing cybersecurity challenges facing financial institutions, particularly concerning third-party vendor vulnerabilities. Customers of both banks are advised to monitor their accounts for suspicious activity and consider credit monitoring services.