HSBC data theft affects 24,000 accounts

11th Mar 2010 10:54

HSBC has admitted that data on about 15,000 customers with accounts in Switzerland has been stolen by a former information-technology employee.Up to 9,000 accounts that had been closed in the past are also said to have been affected. The British bank previously claimed that 'less than 10 clients' had been affected.The former HSBC computer specialist, widely reported to be Herve Falciani, passed the data on to French tax authorities. France later agreed to return the information to Switzerland. HSBC said today it doesn't believe that the stolen data has or will allow any third party to access any client account.The theft only involves clients who had accounts with the bank in Switzerland before October 2006 with the exception of its former subsidiary HSBC Guyerzeller Bank.HSBC said it has contacted the customers affected to explain and apologise for the threat to their privacy. 'We deeply regret this situation and unreservedly apologise to our clients for this threat to their privacy,' commented Alexandre Zeller, chief executive of HSBC Private Bank (Suisse). 'We are determined to protect our clients' interests and are taking every necessary measure to do so, actively contacting all our clients with Swiss-based accounts.'HSBC said it is cooperating with the Swiss authorities and continues its own investigations.Stolen information from a number of banks in Liechtenstein and Switzerland has recently been offered to foreign tax authorities.