Legal Question in Banking Law in Illinois

My husband and I had opened a Safe Deposit Box at Bank of America early last year. At the time I had just moved to the US and had not received my social security number. The Bank said to provide it whenever I received it. A few months after that we received a letter stating that some of my information was missing, and they need a TIN/SSN. I provided them with my social, took the form into the bank, they said it was fine, they would take care of it. The box was automatically renewed in May of this year. Then a few weeks ago we get a letter stating that because of the Patriot Act our box was drilled into and our contents removed. We didn't receive any prior notifications that there was problem, aside from the letter in 2009. Do they have the right to do that without notifing us? We had been into the bank many times, they have my social, I just want to know if we can persue this further legally or if they were within their rights to invade our privacy?

Thanks so much, Mrs O.


Asked on 10/04/10, 10:17 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

You will need to contact the US Department of Homeland Security.

While I am an active member of the Illinois Bar, this Answer is intended solely as a courtesy to the Questioner based on an incomplete set of facts, so that the Questioner can be encouraged to obtain proper and complete legal advice based on all of the necessary facts.

This is not meant as a definitive answer but a general narrative to assist you in heading in the right direction. Any law cited or referred to specifically or generally may or may not apply to a specific set of facts. We nevertheless hope this is of some help to you.

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Answered on 10/09/10, 11:02 am


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