[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 29, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15736-15754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5980]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Part 30

[Docket No. 05-07]
RIN 1557-AC92

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Parts 208 and 225

[Docket No. OP-1155]

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR Part 364

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Thrift Supervision

12 CFR Parts 568 and 570

[No. 2005-11]
RIN 1550-AB97


Interagency Guidance on Response Programs for Unauthorized Access 
to Customer Information and Customer Notice

AGENCIES: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury (OCC); 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board); Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Office of Thrift Supervision, 
Treasury (OTS).

ACTION: Interpretive guidance and OTS final rule.

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SUMMARY: The OCC, Board, FDIC, and OTS (the Agencies) are publishing an 
interpretation of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and the Interagency 
Guidelines Establishing Information Security Standards (Security 
Guidelines).\1\ This interpretive guidance, titled ``Interagency 
Guidance on Response Programs for Unauthorized Access to Customer 
Information and Customer Notice'' (final Guidance), is being published 
as a supplement to the Security Guidelines in the Code of Federal 
Regulations in order to make the interpretation more accessible to 
financial institutions and to the general public. The final Guidance 
will clarify the responsibilities of financial institutions under 
applicable Federal law. OTS is also making a conforming, technical 
change to its Security Procedures Rule.
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    \1\ This document renames the ``Interagency Guidelines 
Establishing Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information'' as 
the ``Interagency Guidelines Establishing Information Security 
Standards.'' Therefore, all other references in the Agencies' 
regulations to the former title of the Security Guidelines shall be 
read to refer to the new title.

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DATES: Effective March 29, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OCC: Aida Plaza Carter, Director, Bank 
Information Technology, (202) 874-4740; Amy Friend, Assistant Chief 
Counsel, (202) 874-5200; or Deborah Katz, Senior Counsel, Legislative 
and Regulatory Activities Division, (202) 874-5090, at 250 E Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20219.
    Board: Donna L. Parker, Supervisory Financial Analyst, Division of 
Banking Supervision & Regulation, (202) 452-2614; or Joshua H. Kaplan, 
Attorney, Legal Division, (202) 452-2249, at 20th and C Streets, NW., 
Washington, DC 20551.
    FDIC: Jeffrey M. Kopchik, Senior Policy Analyst, Division of 
Supervision and Consumer Protection, (202) 898-3872; Kathryn M. 
Weatherby, Examiner Specialist, Division of Supervision and Consumer 
Protection, (202) 898-6793; or Robert A. Patrick, Counsel, Legal 
Division, (202) 898-3757, at 550 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20429.
    OTS: Lewis C. Angel, Program Manager, (202) 906-5645; Glenn Gimble, 
Senior Project Manager, Consumer Protection and Specialized Programs, 
(202) 906-7158; or Richard Bennett, Counsel, Regulations and 
Legislation Division, (202) 906-7409, at 1700 G Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20552.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The contents of this preamble are listed in 
the following outline:

I. Introduction
II. Overview of Comments Received
III. Overview of Final Guidance
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Comments Received
    A. The ``Background'' Section
    B. The ``Response Program'' Section
    C. The ``Customer Notice'' Section
V. Effective Date
VI. OTS Conforming and Technical Change
VII. Impact of Guidance
VIII. Regulatory Analysis
    A. Paperwork Reduction Act
    B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    C. Executive Order 12866
    D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

I. Introduction

    The Agencies are jointly issuing final Guidance that interprets the 
requirements of section 501(b) of the GLBA, 15 U.S.C. 6801, and the 
Security Guidelines \2\ to include the development

[[Page 15737]]

and implementation of a response program to address unauthorized access 
to, or use of customer information that could result in substantial 
harm or inconvenience to a customer. The Guidance describes the 
appropriate elements of a financial institution's response program, 
including customer notification procedures.
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    \2\ 12 CFR part 30, app. B (OCC); 12 CFR part 208, app. D-2, and 
part 225, app. F (Board); 12 CFR part 364, app. B (FDIC); and 12 CFR 
part 570, app. B (OTS). In this Guidance, citations to the Agencies' 
Security Guidelines refer only to the appropriate paragraph number, 
as these numbers are common to each of the Guidelines.
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    Section 501(b) required the Agencies to establish standards for 
financial institutions relating to administrative, technical, and 
physical safeguards to: (1) Ensure the security and confidentiality of 
customer information; (2) protect against any anticipated threats or 
hazards to the security or integrity of such information; and (3) 
protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that 
could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.
    On February 1, 2001, the Agencies issued the Security Guidelines as 
required by section 501(b) (66 FR 8616). Among other things, the 
Security Guidelines direct financial institutions to: (1) Identify 
reasonably foreseeable internal and external threats that could result 
in unauthorized disclosure, misuse, alteration, or destruction of 
customer information or customer information systems; (2) assess the 
likelihood and potential damage of these threats, taking into 
consideration the sensitivity of customer information; and (3) assess 
the sufficiency of policies, procedures, customer information systems, 
and other arrangements in place to control risks.\3\
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    \3\ Security Guidelines, III.B.2.
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    To address the need for additional interpretive guidance regarding 
section 501(b) and the Security Guidelines, on August 12, 2003, the 
Agencies published proposed Interagency Guidance on Response Programs 
for Unauthorized Access to Customer Information and Customer Notice 
(proposed Guidance) in the Federal Register (68 FR 47954). This 
proposed Guidance made clear that the Agencies expect a financial 
institution's information security program, required under the Security 
Guidelines, to include a response program.
    The Agencies were interested in the public's views on the proposed 
Guidance and accordingly published it for comment.\4\ The Agencies have 
used these comments to assess the impact of the proposed Guidance, and 
to address the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
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    \4\ Under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), an agency may 
dispense with public notice and an opportunity to comment for 
general statements of policy. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). Therefore, notice 
and comment were not required under the APA for this final Guidance. 
OTS has concluded that notice and comment were also not required 
under the APA for its conforming and technical change as discussed 
in part VI of this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
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II. Overview of Comments Received

    The Agencies invited comment on all aspects of the proposed 
Guidance and collectively received 65 comments on the proposed 
Guidance. In some instances, several commenters joined in filing a 
single comment. The commenters included 10 bank holding companies, 
eight financial institution trade associations, 25 financial 
institutions (including three Federal Reserve Banks), five consumer 
groups, three payment systems, three software companies, three non-
financial institution business associations, three service providers, 
two credit unions, a member of Congress, a state office, a compliance 
officer, a security and risk consultant, a trademark protection 
service, and a trade association representing consumer reporting 
agencies.
    Commenters generally agreed that financial institutions should have 
response programs. Indeed, many financial institutions said that they 
have such programs in place. Comments from consumer groups and the 
Congressman commended the Agencies for providing guidance on response 
programs and customer notification. However, most industry commenters 
thought that the proposed Guidance was too prescriptive. These 
commenters stated that the proposed approach would stifle innovation 
and retard the effective evolution of response programs. Industry 
commenters raised concerns that the proposed Guidance would not permit 
a financial institution to assess different situations from its own 
business perspective, specific to its size, operational and system 
structure, and risk tolerances. These industry commenters suggested 
modifying the proposed Guidance to give financial institutions greater 
discretion to determine how to respond to incidents of unauthorized 
access to or use of customer information.
    Two commenters also requested that the Agencies include a 
transition period allowing adequate time for financial institutions to 
implement the final Guidance. Some commenters asked for a transition 
period only for the aspects of the final Guidance that address service 
provider arrangements.

III. Overview of Final Guidance

    The final Guidance states that every financial institution should 
develop and implement a response program designed to address incidents 
of unauthorized access to customer information maintained by the 
institution or its service provider. The final Guidance provides each 
financial institution with greater flexibility to design a risk-based 
response program tailored to the size, complexity and nature of its 
operations.
    The final Guidance continues to highlight customer notice as a key 
feature of an institution's response program. However, in response to 
the comments received, the final Guidance modifies the standard 
describing when notice should be given and provides for a delay at the 
request of law enforcement. It also modifies which customers should be 
given notice, what a notice should contain, and how it should be 
delivered.
    A more detailed discussion of the final Guidance and the manner in 
which it incorporates comments the Agencies received follows.

IV. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Comments Received

A. The ``Background'' Section

Legal Authority
    Section I of the proposed Guidance described the legal authority 
for the Agencies' position that every financial institution should have 
a response program that includes measures to protect customer 
information maintained by the institution or its service providers. The 
proposed Guidance also stated that the Agencies expect customer 
notification to be a component of the response program.
    One commenter questioned the Agencies' legal authority to issue the 
proposed Guidance. This commenter asserted that section 501(b) only 
authorizes the Agencies to establish standards requiring financial 
institutions to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of customer 
information and to protect that information from unauthorized access, 
but does not authorize standards that would require a response to 
incidents where the security of customer information actually has been 
breached.
    The final Guidance interprets those provisions of the Security 
Guidelines issued under the authority of section 501(b)(3) of the GLBA, 
which states specifically that the standards to be established by the 
Agencies must include various safeguards to protect against not only 
``unauthorized access to,'' but also the ``use of,'' customer

[[Page 15738]]

information that could result in ``substantial harm or inconvenience to 
any customer.'' This language authorizes standards that include 
response programs to address incidents of unauthorized access to 
customer information. A response program is the principal means for a 
financial institution to protect against unauthorized ``use'' of 
customer information that could lead to ``substantial harm or 
inconvenience'' to the institution's customer. For example, customer 
notification is an important tool that enables a customer to take steps 
to prevent identity theft, such as by arranging to have a fraud alert 
placed in his or her credit file. Accordingly, when evaluating the 
adequacy of an institution's information security program required by 
the Security Guidelines, the Agencies will consider whether the 
institution has developed and implemented a response program as 
described in the final Guidance.
Scope of Guidance
    In a number of places throughout the proposed Guidance, the 
Agencies referenced definitions in the Security Guidelines. However, 
the Agencies did not specifically address the scope of the proposed 
Guidance. Commenters had questions and suggestions regarding the scope 
of the proposed Guidance and the meaning of terms used.
Entities and Information Covered
    Some commenters had questions about the entities and information 
covered by the proposed Guidance. One commenter suggested that the 
Agencies clarify that foreign offices, branches, and affiliates of 
United States banks are not subject to the final Guidance. Some 
commenters recommended that the Agencies clarify that the final 
Guidance applies only to unauthorized access to sensitive information 
within the control of the financial institution. One commenter thought 
that the final Guidance should be broad and cover frauds committed 
against bank customers through the Internet, such as through the misuse 
of online corporate identities to defraud online banking customers 
through fake web sites (commonly known as ``phishing''). Several 
commenters requested confirmation in the final Guidance that it applies 
to consumer accounts and not to business and other commercial accounts.
    For greater clarity, the Agencies have revised the Background 
section of the final Guidance to state that the scope and definitions 
of terms used in the Guidance are identical to those in section 501(b) 
of the GLBA and the Security Guidelines which largely cross-reference 
definitions used in the Agencies' Privacy Rules.\5\ Therefore, 
consistent with section 501(b) and the Security Guidelines, this final 
Guidance applies to the entities enumerated in section 505(a) of the 
GLBA.\6\ This final Guidance does not apply to a financial 
institution's foreign offices, branches, or affiliates. However, a 
financial institution subject to the Security Guidelines is responsible 
for the security of its customer information, whether the information 
is maintained within or outside of the United States, such as by a 
service provider located outside of the United States.
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    \5\ 12 CFR part 40 (OCC); 12 CFR part 216 (Board); 12 CFR part 
332 (FDIC); and 12 CFR part 573 (OTS). In this final Guidance, 
citations to the Agencies' Privacy Rules refer only to the 
appropriate section number that is common to each of these rules.
    \6\ National banks, Federal branches and Federal agencies of 
foreign banks and any subsidiaries of these entities (except 
brokers, dealers, persons providing insurance, investment companies, 
and investment advisers) (OCC); member banks (other than national 
banks), branches and agencies of foreign banks (other than Federal 
branches, Federal agencies, and insured State branches of foreign 
banks), commercial lending companies owned or controlled by foreign 
banks, Edge and Agreement Act Corporations, bank holding companies 
and their nonbank subsidiaries or affiliates (except brokers, 
dealers, persons providing insurance, investment companies, and 
investment advisers) (Board); state non-member banks, insured State 
branches of foreign banks, and any subsidiaries of such entities 
(except brokers, dealers, persons providing insurance, investment 
companies, and investment advisers) (FDIC); and insured savings 
associations and any subsidiaries of such savings associations 
(except brokers, dealers, persons providing insurance, investment 
companies, and investment advisers) (OTS).
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    This final Guidance also applies to ``customer information,'' 
meaning any record containing ``nonpublic personal information'' (as 
that term is defined in Sec.  ----.3(n) of the Agencies' Privacy Rules) 
about a financial institution's customer, whether in paper, electronic, 
or other form, that is maintained by or on behalf of the 
institution.\7\ Consequently, the final Guidance applies only to 
information that is within the control of the institution and its 
service providers, and would not apply to information directly 
disclosed by a customer to a third party, for example, through a 
fraudulent Web site.
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    \7\ See Security Guidelines, I.C.2.c.
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    Moreover, this final Guidance does not apply to information 
involving business or commercial accounts. Instead, the final Guidance 
applies to nonpublic personal information about a ``customer'' within 
the meaning of the Security Guidelines, namely, a consumer who obtains 
a financial product or service from a financial institution to be used 
primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, and who has a 
continuing relationship with the institution.\8\
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    \8\ See Security Guidelines, I.C.2.b.; Privacy Rules, Sec.  --
--.3(h).
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Effect of Other Laws
    Several commenters requested that the Agencies explain how the 
final Guidance interacts with additional and possibly conflicting state 
law requirements. Most of these commenters urged that the final 
Guidance expressly preempt state law. By contrast, one commenter asked 
the Agencies to clarify that a financial institution must also comply 
with additional state law requirements. In addition, some commenters 
asked that the final Guidance provide a safe harbor defense against 
class action suits. They suggested that the safe harbor should cover 
any financial institution that takes reasonable steps that regulators 
require to protect customer information, but, nonetheless, experiences 
an event beyond its control that leads to the disclosure of customer 
information.
    These issues do not fall within the scope of this final Guidance. 
The extent to which section 501(b) of the GLBA, the Security 
Guidelines, and any related Agency interpretations, such as this final 
Guidance, preempt state law is governed by Federal law, including the 
procedures set forth in section 507 of GLBA, 15 U.S.C. 6807.\9\ 
Moreover, there is nothing in Title V of the GLBA that authorizes the 
Agencies to provide institutions with a safe harbor defense. Therefore, 
the final Guidance does not address these issues.
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    \9\ Section 507 provides that state laws that are 
``inconsistent'' with the provisions of Title V, Subtitle A of the 
GLBA are preempted ``only to the extent of the inconsistency.'' 
State laws are ``not inconsistent'' if they offer greater protection 
than Subtitle A, as determined by the Federal Trade Commission, 
after consultation with the agency or authority with jurisdiction 
under section 505(a) of either the person that initiated the 
complaint or that is the subject of the complaint. See 15 U.S.C. 
6807.
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Organizational Changes in the ``Background'' Section
    For the reasons described earlier, the Background section is 
adopted essentially as proposed, except that the latter part of the 
paragraph on ``Service Providers'' and the entire paragraph on 
``Response Programs'' are incorporated into the introductory discussion 
of section II. The Agencies believe that the Background section is now 
clearer, as it focuses solely on the statutory and regulatory framework 
upon which the final Guidance is based. Comments and changes with 
respect to the paragraphs that were relocated are discussed in the next 
section.

[[Page 15739]]

B. The ``Response Program'' Section

    The Security Guidelines enumerate a number of security measures 
that each financial institution must consider and adopt, if 
appropriate, to control risks stemming from reasonably foreseeable 
internal and external threats to an institution's customer 
information.\10\ The introductory paragraph of section II of the final 
Guidance specifically states that a financial institution should 
implement those security measures designed to prevent unauthorized 
access to or use of customer information, such as by placing access 
controls on customer information systems and conducting background 
checks for employees \11\ who are authorized to access customer 
information. The introductory paragraph also states that every 
financial institution should develop and implement security measures 
designed to address incidents of unauthorized access to customer 
information that occur despite measures to prevent security breaches.
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    \10\ Security Guidelines, III.B. and III.C.
    \11\ A footnote has been added to this section to make clear 
that institutions should also conduct background checks of employees 
to ensure that the institution does not violate 12 U.S.C. 1829, 
which prohibits an institution from hiring an individual convicted 
of certain criminal offenses or who is subject to a prohibition 
order under 12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(6).
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    The measures enumerated in the Security Guidelines include 
``response programs that specify actions to be taken when the bank 
suspects or detects that unauthorized individuals have gained access to 
customer information systems, including appropriate reports to 
regulatory and law enforcement agencies.''\12\ Prompt action by both 
the institution and the customer following the unauthorized access to 
customer information is crucial to limit identity theft. As a result, 
every financial institution should develop and implement a response 
program appropriate to the size and complexity of the institution and 
the nature and scope of its activities, designed to address incidents 
of unauthorized access to customer information.
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    \12\ Security Guidelines, III.C.1.g.
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    The introductory language in section II of the final Guidance 
states that a response program should be a key part of an institution's 
information security program. It also emphasizes that a financial 
institution's response program should be risk-based and describes the 
components of a response program in a less prescriptive manner.
Service Provider Contracts
    The Background section of the proposed Guidance elaborated on the 
specific provisions that a financial institution's contracts with its 
service providers should contain. The proposed Guidance stated that a 
financial institution's contract with its service provider should 
require the service provider to disclose fully to the institution 
information related to any breach in security resulting in an 
unauthorized intrusion into the institution's customer information 
systems maintained by the service provider. It stated that this 
disclosure would permit an institution to expeditiously implement its 
response program.
    Several commenters on the proposed Guidance agreed that a financial 
institution's contracts with its service providers should require the 
service provider to disclose fully to the institution information 
related to any breach in security resulting in an unauthorized 
intrusion into the institution's customer information systems 
maintained by the service provider. However, many commenters suggested 
modifications to this section.
    The discussion of this aspect of a financial institution's 
contracts with its service providers is in section II of the final 
Guidance. It has been revised as follows in response to the comments 
received.
Timing of Service Provider Notification
    The Agencies received a number of comments regarding the timing of 
a service provider's notice to a financial institution. One commenter 
suggested requiring service providers to report incidents of 
unauthorized access to financial institutions within 24 hours after 
discovery of the incident.
    In response to comments on the timing of a service provider's 
notice to a financial institution, the final Guidance adds that a 
financial institution's contract with its service provider should 
require the service provider to take appropriate action to address 
incidents of unauthorized access to the institution's customer 
information, including by notifying the institution as soon as possible 
of any such incident, to enable the institution to expeditiously 
implement its response program. The Agencies determined that requiring 
notice within 24 hours of an incident may not be practicable or 
appropriate in every situation, particularly where, for example, it 
takes a service provider time to investigate a breach in security. 
Therefore, the final Guidance does not specify a number of hours or 
days by which the service provider must give notice to the financial 
institution.
Existing Contracts With Service Providers
    Some commenters expressed concerns that they would have to rewrite 
their contracts with service providers to require the disclosure 
described in this provision. These commenters asked the Agencies to 
grandfather existing contracts and to apply this provision only 
prospectively to new contracts. Many commenters also suggested that the 
final Guidance contain a transition period to permit financial 
institutions to modify their existing contracts.
    The Agencies have decided not to grandfather existing contracts or 
to add a transition period to the final Guidance because, as stated in 
the proposed Guidance, this disclosure provision is consistent with the 
obligations in the Security Guidelines that relate to service provider 
arrangements and with existing guidance on this topic previously issued 
by the Agencies.\13\ In order to ensure the safeguarding of customer 
information, financial institutions that use service providers likely 
have already arranged to receive notification from the service 
providers when customer information is accessed in an unauthorized 
manner. In light of the comments received, however, the Agencies 
recognize that there are institutions that have not formally included 
such a disclosure requirement in their contracts. Where this is the 
case, the institution should exercise its best efforts to add a 
disclosure requirement to its contracts and any new contracts should 
include such a provision.
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    \13\ See FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook, 
Outsourcing Technology Services Booklet, Jun. 2004; Federal Reserve 
SR Ltr. 00-04, Outsourcing of Information and Transaction 
Processing, Feb. 9, 2000; OCC Bulletin 2001-47, ``Third-party 
Relationships Risk Management Principles,'' Nov. 1, 2001; FDIC FIL 
68-99, Risk Assessment Tools and Practices for Information System 
Security, July 7, 1999; OTS Thrift Bulletin 82a, Third Party 
Arrangements, Sept. 1, 2004.
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    Thus, the final Guidance adopts the discussion on service provider 
arrangements largely as proposed. To eliminate any ambiguity regarding 
the application of this section to foreign-based service providers, 
however, the final Guidance now makes clear that a covered financial 
institution \14\ should be capable of addressing incidents of 
unauthorized access to customer information in customer information 
systems maintained by its domestic and foreign service providers.\15\
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    \14\ See footnote 6, supra.
    \15\ See, e.g., FFIEC Information Technology Examination 
Handbook, Outsourcing Technology Services Booklet, Jun. 2004; OCC 
Bulletin 2002-16 (national banks); OTS Thrift Bulletin 82a, Third 
Party Arrangements, Sept. 1, 2004 (savings associations).

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[[Page 15740]]

Components of a Response Program
    As described earlier, commenters criticized the prescriptive nature 
of proposed section II that described the four components a response 
program should contain. The proposed Guidance instructed institutions 
to design programs to respond to incidents of unauthorized access to 
customer information by: (1) Assessing the situation; (2) notifying 
regulatory and law enforcement agencies; (3) containing and controlling 
the situation; and (4) taking corrective measures. The proposed 
Guidance contained detailed information about each of these four 
components.
    The introductory discussion in this section of the final Guidance 
now makes clear that, as a general matter, an institution's response 
program should be risk-based. It applies this principle by modifying 
the discussion of a number of these components. The Agencies determined 
that the detailed instructions in these components of the proposed 
Guidance, especially in the ``Corrective Measures'' section, would not 
always be relevant or appropriate. Therefore, the final Guidance 
describes, through brief bulleted points, the elements of a response 
program, giving financial institutions greater discretion to address 
incidents of unauthorized access to or use of customer information that 
could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to a customer.
    At a minimum, an institution's response program should contain 
procedures for: (1) Assessing the nature and scope of an incident, and 
identifying what customer information systems and types of customer 
information have been accessed or misused; (2) notifying its primary 
Federal regulator as soon as possible when the institution becomes 
aware of an incident involving unauthorized access to or use of 
sensitive customer information, as defined later in the final Guidance; 
(3) immediately notifying law enforcement in situations involving 
Federal criminal violations requiring immediate attention; (4) taking 
appropriate steps to contain and control the incident to prevent 
further unauthorized access to or use of customer information, such as 
by monitoring, freezing, or closing affected accounts, while preserving 
records and other evidence; and (5) notifying customers when warranted.
    Assess the Situation. The proposed Guidance stated that an 
institution should assess the nature and scope of the incident and 
identify what customer information systems and types of customer 
information have been accessed or misused.
    Some commenters stated that the Agencies should retain this 
provision in the final Guidance. One commenter suggested that an 
institution should focus its entire response program primarily on 
addressing unauthorized access to sensitive customer information.
    The Agencies have concluded that a financial institution's response 
program should begin with a risk assessment that allows an institution 
to establish the nature of any information improperly accessed. This 
will allow the institution to determine whether and how to respond to 
an incident. Accordingly, the Agencies have not changed this provision.
    Notify Regulatory and Law Enforcement Agencies. The proposed 
Guidance provided that an institution should promptly notify its 
primary Federal regulator when it becomes aware of an incident 
involving unauthorized access to or use of customer information that 
could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to customers. In 
addition, the proposed Guidance stated that an institution should file 
a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR), if required, in accordance with the 
applicable SAR regulations \16\ and various Agency issuances.\17\ The 
proposed Guidance stated that, consistent with the Agencies' SAR 
regulations, in situations involving Federal criminal violations 
requiring immediate attention, the institution immediately should 
notify, by telephone, the appropriate law enforcement authorities and 
its primary regulator, in addition to filing a timely SAR. For the sake 
of clarity, the final Guidance discusses notice to regulators and 
notice to law enforcement in two separate bulleted items.
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    \16\ 12 CFR 21.11 (national banks, Federal branches and 
agencies); 12 CFR 208.62 (State member banks); 12 CFR 211.5(k) (Edge 
and agreement corporations); 12 CFR 211.24(f) (uninsured State 
branches and agencies of foreign banks); 12 CFR 225.4(f) (bank 
holding companies and their nonbank subsidiaries); 12 CFR part 353 
(State non-member banks); and 12 CFR 563.180 (savings associations).
    \17\ For example, national banks must file SARs in connection 
with computer intrusions and other computer crimes. See OCC Bulletin 
2000-14, ``Infrastructure Threats--Intrusion Risks'' (May 15, 2000); 
OCC AL 97-9, ``Reporting Computer Related Crimes'' (November 19, 
1997) (general guidance still applicable though instructions for new 
SAR form published in 65 FR 1229, 1230 (January 7, 2000)). See also 
OCC AL 2001-4, Identity Theft and Pretext Calling, April 30, 2001; 
Federal Reserve SR 01-11, Identity Theft and Pretext Calling, Apr. 
26, 2001; SR 97-28, Guidance Concerning Reporting of Computer 
Related Crimes by Financial Institutions, Nov. 6, 1997; FDIC FIL 48-
2000, Suspicious Activity Reports, July 14, 2000; FIL 47-97, 
Preparation of Suspicious Activity Reports, May 6, 1997; OTS CEO 
Memorandum 139, Identity Theft and Pretext Calling, May 4, 2001; 
http://www.ots.treas.gov/BSA (for the latest SAR form and filing 
instructions required by OTS as of July 1, 2003).
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Standard for Notice to Regulators
    The provision regarding notice to regulators in the proposed 
Guidance prompted numerous comments. Many commenters suggested that the 
Agencies adopt a narrow standard for notifying regulators. These 
commenters were concerned that notice to regulators, provided under the 
circumstances described in the proposed Guidance, would be unduly 
burdensome for institutions, service providers, and regulators, alike.
    Some of these commenters suggested that the Agencies adopt the same 
standard for notifying regulators and customers. These commenters 
recommended that notification occur when an institution becomes aware 
of an incident involving unauthorized access to or use of ``sensitive 
customer information,'' a defined term in the proposed Guidance that 
specified a subset of customer information deemed by the Agencies as 
most likely to be misused.
    Other commenters recommended that the Agencies narrow this 
provision so that a financial institution would inform a regulator only 
in connection with an incident that poses a significant risk of 
substantial harm to a significant number of its customers, or only in a 
situation where substantial harm to customers has occurred or is likely 
to occur, instead of when it could occur.
    Other commenters who advocated the adoption of a narrower standard 
asked the Agencies to take the position that filing a SAR constitutes 
sufficient notice and that notification of other regulatory and law 
enforcement agencies is at the sole discretion of the institution. One 
commenter stated that it is difficult to imagine any scenario that 
would trigger the response program without requiring a SAR filing. Some 
commenters asserted that if the Agencies believe a lower threshold is 
advisable for security breaches, the Agencies should amend the SAR 
regulations.
    By contrast, some commenters recommended that the standard for 
notification of regulators remain broad. One commenter advocated that 
any event that triggers an internal investigation by the institution 
should require notice to the appropriate regulator. Another commenter 
similarly suggested that notification of all security events to Federal 
regulators is critical, not only those involving unauthorized access to 
or use of customer information

[[Page 15741]]

that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to its 
customers.
    The Agencies have concluded that the standard for notification to 
regulators should provide an early warning to allow an institution's 
regulator to assess the effectiveness of an institution's response 
plan, and, where appropriate, to direct that notice be given to 
customers if the institution has not already done so. Thus, the 
standard in the final Guidance states that an institution should notify 
its primary Federal regulator as soon as possible when the institution 
becomes aware of an incident involving unauthorized access to or use of 
``sensitive customer information.''
    ``Sensitive customer information'' is defined in section III of the 
final Guidance and means a customer's name, address, or telephone 
number, in conjunction with the customer's social security number, 
driver's license number, account number, credit or debit card number, 
or a personal identification number or password that would permit 
access to the customer's account. ``Sensitive customer information'' 
also includes any combination of components of customer information 
that would allow someone to log onto or access the customer's account, 
such as user name and password or password and account number.
    This standard is narrower than that in the proposed Guidance 
because a financial institution will need to notify its regulator only 
if it becomes aware of an incident involving ``sensitive customer 
information.'' Therefore, under the final Guidance, there will be fewer 
occasions when a financial institution should need to notify its 
regulators. However, under this standard, a financial institution will 
need to notify its regulator at the time that the institution initiates 
its investigation to determine the likelihood that the information has 
been or will be misused, so that the regulator will be able to take 
appropriate action, if necessary.
Method of Providing Notice to Regulators
    Commenters on the proposed Guidance also questioned how a financial 
institution should provide notice to its regulator. One commenter 
suggested that the Agencies should standardize the notice that 
financial institutions provide to their regulators. The commenter 
suggested that the Agencies use these notices to track institutions' 
compliance with the Security Guidelines, gather comprehensive details 
regarding each incident, and track other statistical data regarding 
security. The statistical data could include the number of security 
incidents reported annually and the number of times the incidents 
warranted customer notice.
    The Agencies do not wish to create another SAR-like process that 
requires the completion of detailed forms. Instead, the Agencies 
contemplate that a financial institution will notify regulators as 
quickly as possible, by telephone, or in some other expeditious manner 
when the institution becomes aware of an incident involving 
unauthorized access to or use of sensitive customer information. The 
Agencies believe that the extent to which they will gather statistics 
on security incidents and customer notice is beyond the scope of the 
final Guidance. Whether or not an Agency will track the number of 
incidents reported is left to the discretion of individual Agencies.
Notice to Regulators by Service Providers
    Commenters on the proposed Guidance questioned whether a financial 
institution or its service provider should give notice to a regulator 
when a security incident involves an unauthorized intrusion into the 
institution's customer information systems maintained by the service 
provider. One commenter noted that if a security event occurs at a 
large service provider, regulators could receive thousands of notices 
from institutions relating to the same event. The commenter suggested 
that if a service provider is examined by one of the Agencies the most 
efficient means of providing regulatory notice of such a security event 
would be to allow the servicer to notify its primary Agency contact. 
The primary Agency contact then could disseminate the information to 
the other regulatory agencies as appropriate.
    The Agencies believe that it is the responsibility of the financial 
institution and not the service provider to notify the institution's 
regulator. Therefore, the final Guidance states that a financial 
institution should notify its primary Federal regulator as soon as 
possible when the institution becomes aware of an incident involving 
unauthorized access to or use of sensitive customer information. 
Nonetheless, a security incident at a service provider could have an 
impact on multiple financial institutions that are supervised by 
different Federal regulators. Therefore, in the interest of efficiency 
and burden reduction, the last paragraph in section II of the final 
Guidance makes clear that an institution may authorize or contract with 
its service provider to notify the institution's regulator on the 
institution's behalf when a security incident involves an unauthorized 
intrusion into the institution's customer information systems 
maintained by the service provider.
Notice to Law Enforcement
    Some commenters took issue with the provision in the proposed 
Guidance regarding notification of law enforcement by telephone. One 
commenter asked the Agencies to clarify how notification of law 
enforcement by telephone would work since in many cases it is unclear 
what telephone number should be used. This commenter maintained that 
size and sophistication of law enforcement authorities may differ from 
state to state and this requirement may create confusion and 
unwarranted action by the law enforcement authority.
    The final Guidance adopts this provision as proposed. The Agencies 
note that the provision stating that an institution should notify law 
enforcement by telephone in situations involving Federal criminal 
violations requiring immediate attention is consistent with the 
Agencies' existing SAR regulations.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ See footnote 16, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Contain and Control the Situation. The proposed Guidance stated 
that the financial institution should take measures to contain and 
control a security incident to prevent further unauthorized access to 
or use of customer information while preserving records and other 
evidence.\19\ It also stated that, depending upon the particular facts 
and circumstances of the incident, measures in connection with computer 
intrusions could include: (1) Shutting down applications or third party 
connections; (2) reconfiguring firewalls in cases of unauthorized 
electronic intrusion; (3) ensuring that all known vulnerabilities in 
the financial institution's computer systems have been addressed; (4) 
changing computer access codes; (5) modifying physical access controls; 
and (6) placing additional controls on service provider arrangements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ See FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook, 
Information Security Booklet, Dec. 2002, pp. 68-74 available at: 
http://www.ffiec.gov/ffiecinfobase/html_pages/infosec_book_frame.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Few comments were received on this section. One commenter suggested 
that the Agencies adopt this section unchanged in the final Guidance. 
Another commenter had questions about the meaning of the phrase

[[Page 15742]]

``known vulnerabilities.'' Commenters did, however, note the overlap 
between proposed section II.C., and the corrective measures in proposed 
section II.D., described as ``flagging accounts'' and ``securing 
accounts.''
    The Agencies agree that some sections in the proposed Guidance 
overlapped. Therefore, the Agencies modified this section by 
incorporating concepts from the proposed Corrective Measures component, 
and removing the more specific examples in this section, including the 
terms that confused commenters. This section in the final Guidance 
gives an institution greater discretion to determine the measures it 
will take to contain and control a security incident. It states that 
institutions should take appropriate steps to contain and control the 
incident to prevent further unauthorized access to or use of customer 
information, such as by monitoring, freezing, or closing affected 
accounts, while preserving records and other evidence.
Preserving Evidence
    One commenter stated that the final Guidance should require 
financial institutions, as part of the response process, to have an 
effective computer forensics capability in order to investigate and 
mitigate computer security incidents as discussed in principle fourteen 
of the Basel Committee's ``Risk Management for Electronic Banking'' 
\20\ and the International Organization for Standardization's ISO 
17799.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ http://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs35.htm.
    \21\ http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/popstds/informationsecurity.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Agencies note that the final Guidance addresses not only 
computer security incidents, but also all other incidents of 
unauthorized access to customer information. Thus, it is not 
appropriate to include more detail about steps an institution should 
take to investigate and mitigate computer security incidents. However, 
the Agencies believe that institutions should be mindful of industry 
standards when investigating an incident. Therefore, the final Guidance 
contains a reference to forensics by generally noting that an 
institution should take appropriate steps to contain and control an 
incident, while preserving records and other evidence.
    Corrective Measures. The proposed Guidance stated that once a 
financial institution understands the scope of the incident and has 
taken steps to contain and control the situation, it should take 
measures to address and mitigate the harm to individual customers. It 
then described three corrective measures that a financial institution 
should include as a part of its response program in order to 
effectively address and mitigate harm to individual customers: (1) 
Flagging accounts; (2) securing accounts; and (3) notifying customers. 
The Agencies removed the first two corrective measures for the reasons 
that follow.
    Flagging and Securing Accounts. The first corrective measure in the 
proposed Guidance directed financial institutions to ``flag accounts.'' 
It stated that an institution should immediately begin identifying and 
monitoring the accounts of those customers whose information may have 
been accessed or misused. It also stated that an institution should 
provide staff with instructions regarding the recording and reporting 
of any unusual activity, and if indicated given the facts of a 
particular incident, implement controls to prevent the unauthorized 
withdrawal or transfer of funds from customer accounts.
    The second corrective measure directed institutions to ``secure 
accounts.'' The proposed Guidance stated that when a checking, savings, 
or other deposit account number, debit or credit card account number, 
personal identification number (PIN), password, or other unique 
identifier has been accessed or misused, the financial institution 
should secure the account and all other accounts and services that can 
be accessed using the same account number or name and password 
combination. The proposed Guidance stated that accounts should be 
secured until such time as the financial institution and the customer 
agree on a course of action.
    Commenters were critical of these proposed measures. Several 
commenters asserted that the final Guidance should not prescribe 
responses to security incidents with this level of detail. Other 
commenters recommended that if the Agencies chose to retain references 
to ``flagging'' or ``securing'' accounts, they should include the words 
``where appropriate'' in order to give institutions the flexibility to 
choose the most effective solutions to problems.
    Commenters also stated that the decision to flag accounts, the 
nature of that flag, and the duration of the flag, should be left to an 
individual financial institution's risk-based procedures developed 
under the Security Guidelines. These commenters asked the Agencies to 
recognize that regular, ongoing fraud prevention and detection methods 
employed by an institution may be sufficient.
    Commenters representing small institutions stated that they do not 
have the technology or other resources to monitor individual accounts. 
They stated that the financial impact of having to monitor accounts for 
unusual activity would be enormous, as each institution would have to 
purchase expensive technology, hire more personnel, or both. These 
commenters asked the Agencies to provide institutions with the 
flexibility to close an account if the institution detects unusual 
activity.
    With respect to ``securing accounts,'' several commenters stated 
that if ``secure'' means close or freeze, either action would be 
extreme and would have significant adverse consequences for customers. 
Other commenters stated that the requirement that the institution and 
the customer ``agree on a course of action'' is unrealistic, unworkable 
and should be eliminated. Some commenters explained that if a customer 
is traveling and the financial institution cannot contact the customer 
to obtain the customer's consent, freezing or closing a customer's 
account could strand the customer with no means of taking care of 
expenses. They stated that, in the typical case, the institution would 
monitor such an account for suspicious transactions.
    As described earlier, the Agencies are adopting an approach in the 
final Guidance that is more flexible and risk-based than that in the 
proposed Guidance. The final Guidance incorporates the general concepts 
described in the first two corrective measures into the brief bullets 
describing components of a response program enumerated in section II.C. 
Therefore, the first and second corrective measures no longer appear in 
the final Guidance.
    Customer Notice and Assistance. The third corrective measure in the 
proposed Guidance was titled ``Customer Notice and Assistance.'' This 
proposed measure stated that a financial institution should notify and 
offer assistance to customers whose information was the subject of an 
incident of unauthorized access or use under the circumstances 
described in section III of the proposed Guidance. The proposed 
Guidance also described which customers should be notified. In 
addition, this corrective measure contained provisions discussing 
delivery and contents of the customer notice.
    The final Guidance now states that an institution's response 
program should contain procedures for notifying customers when 
warranted. For clarity's sake, the discussion of which customers should 
be notified, and the delivery and contents of customer notice, is now 
in new section III, titled ``Customer

[[Page 15743]]

Notice.'' Comments and changes with respect to the paragraphs that were 
relocated are discussed under the section titled ``Customer Notice'' 
that follows.
Responsibility for Notice to Customers
    Some commenters were confused by the discussion in the proposed 
Guidance stating that a financial institution's contract with its 
service provider should require the service provider to disclose fully 
to the institution information related to any breach in security 
resulting in an unauthorized intrusion into the institution's customer 
information systems maintained by the service provider. Commenters 
stated that this provision appears to create an obligation for both 
financial institutions and their service providers to provide notice of 
security incidents to the institution's customers. These commenters 
recommended that the service provider notify its financial institution 
customer so that the financial institution could provide appropriate 
notice to its customers. Thus, customers would avoid receiving multiple 
notices relating to a single security incident.
    Other commenters asserted that a financial institution should not 
have to notify its customers if an incident has occurred because of the 
negligence of its service provider. These commenters recommended that 
in this situation, the service provider should be responsible for 
providing notice to the financial institution's customers.
    As discussed above in connection with notice to regulators, the 
Agencies believe that it is the responsibility of the institution, and 
not of the service provider, to notify the institution's customers in 
connection with an unauthorized intrusion into an institution's 
customer information systems maintained by the service provider. The 
responsibility to notify customers remains with the institution whether 
the incident is inadvertent or due to the service provider's 
negligence. The Agencies note that the costs of providing notice to the 
institution's customers as a result of negligence on the part of the 
service provider may be addressed in the financial institution's 
contract with its service provider.
    The last paragraph in section II of the final Guidance, therefore, 
states that it is the responsibility of the financial institution to 
notify the institution's customers. It also states that the institution 
may authorize or contract with its service provider to notify customers 
on the institution's behalf, when a security incident involves an 
unauthorized intrusion into the institution's customer information 
systems maintained by the service provider.

C. The ``Customer Notice'' Section

    Section III of the proposed Guidance described the standard for 
providing notice to customers and defined the term ``sensitive customer 
information'' used in that standard. This section also gave examples of 
circumstances when a financial institution should give notice and when 
the Agencies do not expect a financial institution to give notice. It 
also discussed contents of the notice and proper delivery.
    Section III of the final Guidance similarly describes the standard 
for providing notice to customers and defines both the terms 
``sensitive customer information'' and ``affected customers.'' It also 
discusses the contents of the notice and proper delivery.
Standard for Providing Notice
    A key feature of the proposed Guidance was the description of when 
a financial institution should provide customer notice. The proposed 
Guidance stated that an institution should notify affected customers 
whenever it becomes aware of unauthorized access to ``sensitive 
customer information'' unless the institution, after an appropriate 
investigation, reasonably concludes that misuse of the information is 
unlikely to occur and takes appropriate steps to safeguard the 
interests of affected customers, including by monitoring affected 
customers' accounts for unusual or suspicious activity.
    The Agencies believed that this proposed standard would strike a 
balance between notification to customers every time the mere 
possibility of misuse of customer information arises from unauthorized 
access and a situation where the financial institution knows with 
certainty that information is being misused. However, the Agencies 
specifically requested comment on whether this is the appropriate 
standard and invited commenters to offer alternative thresholds for 
customer notification.
    Some commenters stated that the proposed standard was reasonable 
and sufficiently flexible. However, many commenters recommended that 
the Agencies provide financial institutions with greater discretion to 
determine when a financial institution should notify its customers. 
Some of these commenters asserted that a financial institution should 
not have to give notice unless the institution believes it ``to be 
reasonably likely,'' or if circumstances indicated ``a significant 
risk'' that the information will be misused.
    Commenters maintained that because the proposed standard states 
that a financial institution should give notice when fraud or identity 
theft is merely possible, notification under these circumstances would 
needlessly alarm customers where little likelihood of harm exists. 
Commenters claimed that, eventually, frequent notices in non-
threatening situations would be perceived by customers as routine and 
commonplace, and therefore reduce their effectiveness.
    The Agencies believe that articulating as part of the guidance a 
standard that sets forth when notice to customers is warranted is both 
helpful and appropriate. However, the Agencies agree with commenters 
and are concerned that the proposed threshold inappropriately required 
institutions to prove a negative proposition, namely, that misuse of 
the information accessed is unlikely to occur. In addition, the 
Agencies do not want customers of financial institutions to receive 
notices that would not be useful to them. Therefore, the Agencies have 
revised the standard for customer notification.
    The final Guidance provides that when an institution becomes aware 
of an incident of unauthorized access to sensitive customer 
information, the institution should conduct a reasonable investigation 
to determine promptly the likelihood that the information has been or 
will be misused. If the institution determines that misuse of the 
information has occurred or is reasonably possible, it should notify 
affected customers as soon as possible.
    An investigation is an integral part of the standard in the final 
Guidance. A financial institution should not forego conducting an 
investigation to avoid reaching a conclusion regarding the likelihood 
that customer information has been or will be misused and cannot 
unreasonably limit the scope of the investigation. However, the 
Agencies acknowledge that a full-scale investigation may not be 
necessary in all cases, such as where the facts readily indicate that 
information will or will not be misused.
Monitoring for Suspicious Activity
    The proposed Guidance stated that an institution need not notify 
customers if it reasonably concludes that misuse of the information is 
unlikely to occur and takes appropriate steps to safeguard the 
interests of affected customers, including by monitoring affected 
customers' accounts for unusual or

[[Page 15744]]

suspicious activity. A number of comments addressed the standard in the 
proposed Guidance on monitoring affected customers' accounts for 
unusual or suspicious activity.
    Some commenters stated that the final Guidance should grant 
institutions the discretion to monitor the affected customer accounts 
for a period of time and to the extent warranted by the particular 
circumstances. Some commenters suggested that monitoring occur during 
the investigation. One commenter noted that an institution's 
investigation may reveal that monitoring is unnecessary. One commenter 
noted that monitoring the customer's accounts at the institution may 
not protect the customer, because unauthorized access to customer 
information may result in identity theft beyond the accounts held at 
the specific financial institution.
    The Agencies agree that under certain circumstances, monitoring may 
be unnecessary, for example when, on the basis of a reasonable 
investigation, an institution determines that information was not 
misused. The Agencies also agree that the monitoring requirement may 
not protect the customer. Indeed, an identity thief with unauthorized 
access to certain sensitive customer information likely will open 
accounts at other financial institutions in the customer's name. 
Accordingly, the Agencies conclude that monitoring under the 
circumstances described in the standard for notice would be burdensome 
for financial institutions without a commensurate benefit to customers. 
For these reasons, the Agencies have removed the reference to 
monitoring in the final Guidance.
Timing of Notice
    The proposed Guidance did not include specific language on the 
timing of notice to customers and the Agencies received many comments 
on this issue. Some commenters requested clarification of the time 
frame for customer notice. One commenter recommended that the Agencies 
adopt the approach in the proposed Guidance because it did not set 
forth any circumstances that may delay notification of the affected 
customers. Yet another commenter maintained that, in light of a 
customer's need to act expeditiously against identity theft, an outside 
limit of 48 hours after the financial institution learns of the breach 
is a reasonable and timely requirement for notice to customers. Many 
commenters, however, recommended that the Agencies make clear that an 
institution may take the time it reasonably needs to conduct an 
investigation to assess the risk resulting from a security incident.
    The Agencies have responded to these various comments on the timing 
of notice by providing that a financial institution notify an affected 
customer ``as soon as possible'' after concluding that misuse of the 
customer's information has occurred or is reasonably possible. As the 
scope and timing of a financial institution's investigation is dictated 
by the facts and circumstances of a particular case, the Agencies have 
not designated a specific number of hours or days by which financial 
institutions should provide notice to customers. The Agencies believe 
that doing so may inhibit an institution's ability to investigate 
adequately a particular incident or may result in notice that is not 
timely.
Delay for Law Enforcement Investigation
    The proposed Guidance did not address delay of notice to customers 
while a law enforcement investigation is conducted. Many commenters 
recommended permitting an institution to delay notification to 
customers to avoid compromising a law enforcement investigation. These 
commenters noted that the California Database Protection Act of 2003 
(CDPA) requires notification of California residents whose unencrypted 
personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, 
acquired by an unauthorized person.\22\ However, the CDPA permits a 
delay in notification if a law enforcement agency determines that the 
notification will impede a criminal investigation.\23\ Another 
commenter suggested that an institution should not have to obtain a 
formal determination from a law enforcement agency before it is able to 
delay notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ See CAL. CIV. CODE Sec.  1798.82 (West 2005).
    \23\ See CAL. CIV. CODE Sec.  1798.82(c) (West 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Agencies agree that it is appropriate to delay customer notice 
if such notice will jeopardize a law enforcement investigation. 
However, to ensure that such a delay is necessary and justifiable, the 
final Guidance states that customer notice may be delayed if an 
appropriate law enforcement agency determines that notification will 
interfere with a criminal investigation and provides the institution 
with a written request for the delay.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ This includes circumstances when an institution confirms 
that an oral request for delay from law enforcement will be followed 
by a written request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Agencies are concerned that a delay of notification for a law 
enforcement investigation could interfere with the ability of customers 
to protect themselves from identity theft and other misuse of their 
sensitive information. Thus, the final Guidance also provides that a 
financial institution should notify its customers as soon as 
notification will no longer interfere with the investigation and should 
maintain contact with the law enforcement agency that has requested a 
delay, in order to learn, in a timely manner, when customer notice will 
no longer interfere with the investigation.

Sensitive Customer Information

Scope of Standard
    The Agencies received many comments on the limitation of notice in 
the proposed Guidance to incidents involving unauthorized access to 
sensitive customer information. The Agencies invited comment on whether 
to modify the proposed standard for notice to apply to other 
circumstances that compel an institution to conclude that unauthorized 
access to information, other than sensitive customer information, 
likely will result in substantial harm or inconvenience to the affected 
customers.
    Most commenters recommended that the standard remain as proposed 
rather than covering other types of information. One commenter 
suggested that the Agencies continue to allow a financial institution 
the discretion to notify affected customers in any other extraordinary 
circumstances that compel it to conclude that unauthorized access to 
information other than sensitive customer information likely will 
result in substantial harm or inconvenience to those affected. However, 
the commenter did not provide any examples of such extraordinary 
circumstances.
    The Agencies continue to believe that the rationale for limiting 
the standard to sensitive customer information expressed in the 
proposed Guidance is correct. The proposed Guidance explained that, 
under the Security Guidelines, an institution must protect against 
unauthorized access to or use of customer information that could result 
in substantial harm or inconvenience to a customer. Substantial harm or 
inconvenience is most likely to result from improper access to 
sensitive customer information because this type of information is most 
likely to be misused, as in the commission of identity theft.
    The Agencies have not identified any other circumstances that 
should prompt customer notice and continue to believe that it is not 
likely that a customer will suffer substantial harm or inconvenience 
from unauthorized

[[Page 15745]]

access to other types of information. Therefore, the standard in the 
final Guidance continues to be limited to unauthorized access to 
sensitive customer information. Of course, a financial institution 
still may send notices to customers in any additional circumstances 
that it determines are appropriate.
Definition of Sensitive Customer Information
    The Agencies received many comments on the proposed definition of 
``sensitive customer information'' in the proposed Guidance. The first 
part of the proposed definition stated that ``sensitive customer 
information'' is a customer's social security number, personal 
identification number (PIN), password or account number, in conjunction 
with a personal identifier such as the customer's name, address, or 
telephone number. In addition, the second part of the proposed 
definition stated that ``sensitive customer information'' includes any 
combination of components of customer information that allow someone to 
log onto or access another person's account, such as user name and 
password.
    Some commenters agreed with this definition of ``sensitive customer 
information.'' They said that it was sound, workable, and sufficiently 
detailed. However, many commenters proposed additions, exclusions, or 
alternative definitions.
Additional Elements
    Some commenters suggested that the Agencies add various data 
elements to the definition of sensitive customer information, including 
a driver's license number or number of other government-issued 
identification, mother's maiden name, and date of birth. One commenter 
suggested inclusion of other information that institutions maintain in 
their customer information systems such as a customer's account 
balance, account activity, purchase history, and investment 
information. The commenter noted that misuse of this information in 
combination with a personal identifier can just as easily result in 
substantial harm or inconvenience to a customer.
    The Agencies have added to the first part of the definition several 
more specific components, such as driver's license number and debit and 
credit card numbers, because this information is commonly sought by 
identity thieves. However, the Agencies determined that the second part 
of the definition would cover the remaining suggestions. For example, 
where date of birth or mother's maiden name are used as passwords, 
under the final Guidance they will be considered components of customer 
information that allow someone to log onto or access another person's 
account. Therefore, these specific elements have not been added to the 
definition.
Exclusions
    Commenters also asserted that the proposed definition of sensitive 
customer information was too broad and proposed various exclusions. For 
example, some commenters asked the Agencies to exclude publicly 
available information, and also suggested that the final Guidance apply 
only to account numbers for transaction accounts or other accounts from 
which withdrawals or transfers can be initiated. These commenters 
explained that access to a mortgage account number (which may also be a 
public record) does not permit withdrawal of additional funds or 
otherwise damage the customer. Other commenters requested that the 
Agencies exclude encrypted information. Some of these commenters noted 
that only unencrypted information is covered by the CDPA.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See CAL. CIV. CODE Sec.  1798.82(a) (West 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final Guidance does not adopt any of the proposed exclusions. 
The Agencies believe it would be inappropriate to exclude publicly 
available information from the definition of sensitive customer 
information, where publicly available information is otherwise covered 
by the definition of ``customer information.'' \26\ So for instance, 
while a personal identifier, i.e., name, address, or phone number, may 
be publicly available, it is sensitive customer information when linked 
with particular nonpublic information such as a credit card account 
number. However, where the definition of ``customer information'' does 
not cover publicly available information, sensitive customer 
information also would not cover publicly available information. For 
instance, where an individual's name or address is linked with a 
mortgage loan account number that is in the public record and, 
therefore, would not be considered ``customer information,'' \27\ it 
also would not be considered ``sensitive customer information'' for 
purposes of the final Guidance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ See Security Guidelines, I.C.2.c.
    \27\ See Sec.  ----.3(p)(3)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, access to a customer's personal information and 
account number, regardless of whether it is an account from which 
withdrawals or transfers can be initiated, may permit an identity thief 
to access other accounts from which withdrawals can be made. Thus, the 
Agencies have determined that the definition of account number should 
not be limited as suggested by commenters. The Agencies also believe 
that a blanket exclusion for all encrypted information is not 
appropriate, because there are many levels of encryption, some of which 
do not effectively protect customer information.
Alternative Definitions
    Most alternative definitions suggested by commenters resembled the 
definition of ``personal information'' under the CDPA.\28\ Under the 
CDPA, ``personal information'' includes a resident of California's name 
together with an account number, or credit or debit card number only if 
the information accessed also includes any required security code, 
access code, or password that would permit access to an individual's 
financial account. Therefore, some commenters asked that the final 
Guidance clarify that a name and an account number, together, is not 
sensitive customer information unless these elements are combined with 
other information that permits access to a customer's financial 
account.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ Under California law requiring notice, ``personal 
information'' means an individual's first name or first initial and 
last name in combination with any one or more of the following data 
elements, when either the name or the data elements are not 
encrypted: (1) Social security number; (2) driver's license number 
or California Identification Card number; (3) account number, credit 
or debit card number, in combination with any required security code 
access code, or password that would permit access to an individual's 
financial account. See CAL. CIV. CODE Sec.  1798.82(e) (West 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Agencies concluded that it would be helpful if financial 
institutions could more easily compare and contrast the definition of 
``personal information'' under the CDPA with the definition of 
``sensitive information'' under the Final Guidance. Therefore, the 
elements in the definition of sensitive information in the final 
Guidance are re-ordered and the Agencies added the elements discussed 
earlier.
    The final Guidance states that sensitive customer information means 
a customer's name, address, or telephone number, in conjunction with 
the customer's social security number, driver's license number, account 
number, credit or debit card number, or a personal identification 
number or password that would permit access to the customer's account. 
The final Guidance also states that sensitive customer information 
includes any combination of components of customer information that 
would allow someone to log onto or access the customer's account, such 
as user name and

[[Page 15746]]

password or a password and account number.
    The Agencies decline to adopt the CDPA standard for several 
reasons. First, for example, under the CDPA, personal information 
includes a person's name in combination with other data elements. By 
contrast, the final Guidance treats address and telephone number in the 
same manner as a customer's name, because reverse directories may 
permit an address or telephone number to be traced back to an 
individual customer.
    In addition, under the CDPA, ``personal information'' includes name 
together with an account number, or credit or debit card number only if 
the information accessed also includes any required security code, 
access code, or password that would permit access to an individual's 
financial account. The Agencies note that a name and account number, 
alone, is sufficient to create fraudulent checks, or to direct the 
unauthorized debit of a customer's account even without an access 
code.\29\ Further, a name and credit card number may permit 
unauthorized access to a customer's account. Therefore, the final 
Guidance continues to define a customer's name and account number, or 
credit or debit card number as sensitive customer information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See, e.g., Griff Witte, Bogus Charges, Unknowingly Paid: 
FTC Accuses 2 of Raiding 90,000 Bank Accounts in Card Fraud, 
Washington Post, May 29, 2004, at E1 (list of names with associated 
checking account numbers used by bogus company to debit bank 
accounts without customer authorization).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Affected Customers. The Agencies received many comments on the 
discussion of notice to ``affected customers'' in the proposed 
Guidance. Section II.D.3. of the proposed Guidance provided that if the 
institution could determine from its logs or other data precisely which 
customers' information was accessed or misused, it could restrict its 
notification to those individuals. However, if the institution could 
not identify precisely which customers were affected, it should notify 
each customer in any group likely to have been affected, such as each 
customer whose information was stored in the group of files in 
question.
    Commenters were concerned that this provision in the proposed 
Guidance was overly broad. These commenters stated that providing 
notice to all customers in groups likely to be affected would result in 
many notices that are not helpful. The commenters suggested that the 
final Guidance narrow the standard for notifying customers to only 
those customers whose information has been or is likely to be misused.
    The discussion of ``affected customers'' has been relocated and is 
separately set forth following the definition of ``sensitive customer 
information,'' in the final Guidance. The discussion of ``affected 
customers'' in the final Guidance states that if a financial 
institution, based upon its investigation, can determine from its logs 
or other data precisely which customers' information has been 
improperly accessed,\30\ it may notify only those customers with 
respect to whom the institution determines that misuse of their 
information has occurred or is reasonably possible. However, the final 
Guidance further notes that there may be situations where the 
institution determines that a group of files has been accessed 
improperly, but is unable to identify which specific customers' 
information has been accessed. If the circumstances of the unauthorized 
access lead the institution to determine that misuse of the information 
contained in the group of files is reasonably possible, it should 
notify all customers in the group. In this way, the Agencies have 
reduced the number of notices that should be sent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ The Agencies note that system logs may permit an 
institution to determine precisely which customers' data has been 
improperly accessed. See, e.g., FFIEC Information Technology 
Handbook, Information Security Booklet, page 64 available at http://www.ffiec.gov/ffiecinfobase/html_pages/infosec_book_frame.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Examples. The proposed Guidance described several examples of when 
a financial institution should give notice and when the Agencies do not 
expect a financial institution to give notice.
    The Agencies received a number of comments on the examples. Some 
commenters thought the examples were helpful and suggested that the 
Agencies add more. Other commenters criticized the examples as too 
broad. Many commenters suggested numerous ways to modify and clarify 
the examples.
    Since the examples in the proposed Guidance led to interpretive 
questions, rather than interpretive clarity, the Agencies concluded 
that it is not particularly helpful to offer examples of when notice is 
and is not expected. In addition, the Agencies believe that the 
standard for notice itself has been clarified and examples are no 
longer necessary. Therefore, there are no examples in the final 
Guidance.
    Content of Customer Notice. The Agencies received many comments on 
the discussion of the content of customer notice located in section 
II.D.3.b. of the proposed Guidance. The proposed Guidance stated that a 
notice should describe the incident in general terms and the customer's 
information that was the subject of unauthorized access or use. It 
stated that the notice should also include a number that customers can 
call for further information and assistance, remind customers of the 
need to remain vigilant over the next 12 to 24 months, and recommend 
that customers promptly report incidents of suspected identity theft. 
The proposed Guidance described several ``key elements'' that a notice 
should contain. It also provided a number of ``optional elements'' 
namely, examples of additional assistance that institutions have 
offered.
    Some commenters agreed that the proposed Guidance sufficiently 
addressed most of the key elements necessary for an effective notice. 
However, many commenters requested greater discretion to determine the 
content of the notices that financial institutions provide to 
customers. Commenters suggested that the Agencies make clear that the 
various items suggested for inclusion in any customer notice are 
suggestions, and that not every item is mandatory in every notice.
    Some commenters took issue with the enumerated items in the 
proposed Guidance identified as key elements that a notice should 
contain. For example, many commenters asserted that customers should 
not necessarily be encouraged to place fraud alerts with credit bureaus 
in every circumstance. Some of these commenters noted that not all 
situations will warrant having a fraud alert posted to the customer's 
credit file, especially if the financial institution took appropriate 
action to render the information accessed worthless. According to these 
commenters, the consequences of a fraud alert, such as increased 
obstacles to obtaining credit, may outweigh any benefit. Some 
commenters also noted that a proliferation of fraud alerts not related 
to actual fraud would dilute the effectiveness of the alerts.
    Other commenters criticized the optional elements in the proposed 
Guidance. For instance, some commenters stated that a notice should not 
inform the customer about subscription services that provide 
notification to the customer when there is a request for the customer's 
credit report, or offer to subscribe the customer to this service, free 
of charge, for a period of time. These commenters asserted that 
customer notices should not be converted into a marketing opportunity 
for subscription services provided by consumer credit bureaus. They 
stated that offering the service could mislead the customer into 
believing that these expensive services

[[Page 15747]]

are essential. If the service is offered free of charge, an 
institution's choice of service could be interpreted as an endorsement 
for a specific company and its product.
    As a result of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 
2003, Pub. L. 108-159, 117 Stat. 1985-86 (the FACT Act), many of the 
descriptions of ``key elements'' and ``optional elements'' in the 
proposed Guidance, and comments on these elements, have been 
superceded. For example, the frequency and circumstances under which a 
customer may obtain a credit report free-of-charge have changed.
    The final Guidance continues to specify that a notice should 
describe the incident in general terms and the customer's information 
that was the subject of unauthorized access or use. It also continues 
to state that the notice should include a number that customers can 
call for further information and assistance, remind customers of the 
need to remain vigilant over the next 12 to 24 months, and recommend 
that customers promptly report incidents of suspected identity theft. 
In addition, the final Guidance also states that the notice should 
generally describe what the institution has done to protect the 
customers' information from further unauthorized access.
    However, the final Guidance no longer distinguishes between certain 
other ``key'' items that the notice should contain and those that are 
``optional.'' The Agencies added greater flexibility to this section to 
accommodate any new protections afforded to consumers that flow from 
the FACT Act. Instead of distinguishing between items that the notice 
should contain and those that are optional, an institution may now 
select those items that are appropriate under the circumstances, and 
that are compatible with the FACT Act. Of course, institutions may 
incorporate additional information that is not mentioned in the final 
Guidance, where appropriate.
Coordination With Credit Reporting Agencies
    A trade association representing credit reporting agencies 
commented that its members are extremely concerned about their ability 
to comply with all of the duties (triggered under the FACT Act) that 
result from notices financial institutions send to their customers. 
This commenter strongly recommended that until a financial institution 
has contacted each nationwide consumer reporting agency to coordinate 
the timing, content, and staging of notices as well as the placement of 
fraud alerts, as necessary, a financial institution should refrain from 
issuing notices suggesting that customers contact nationwide consumer 
reporting agencies.
    The commenter also stated that a financial institution that 
includes such suggestions in a notice to its customers should work with 
the credit reporting agencies to purchase the services the financial 
institution believes are necessary to protect its customers. The 
commenter stated that the costs of serving the millions of consumers it 
projects would receive notices under the proposed Guidance cannot be 
borne by the nationwide consumer reporting agencies.
    The commenter also noted that the State of California has provided 
clear guidance in connection with its law requiring notice and also 
suggested that coordination with consumer reporting agencies is vital 
to ensure that a consumer can in fact request a file disclosure in a 
timely manner. This commenter stated that similar guidance at the 
federal level is essential.
    The Agencies believe that the final Guidance addresses this 
commenter's concerns in several ways. First, for the reasons described 
earlier, the standard for customer notice in the final Guidance likely 
will result in financial institutions sending fewer notices than under 
the proposed Guidance. Second, the final Guidance no longer advises 
financial institutions to send notices suggesting that consumers 
contact the nationwide credit reporting agencies in every case. 
Institutions can use their discretion to determine whether such 
information should be included in a notice.
    It is clear, however, that customer notice may prompt more consumer 
contacts with credit reporting agencies, as predicted by the commenter. 
Therefore, the final Guidance encourages a financial institution that 
includes in its notice contact information for nationwide consumer 
reporting agencies to notify the consumer reporting agencies in 
advance, prior to sending large numbers of such notices. In this way, 
the reporting agencies will be on notice that they may have to 
accommodate additional requests for the placement of fraud alerts, 
where necessary.
Model Notice
    Some commenters stated that if mandatory elements are included in 
the final Guidance, the Agencies should develop a model notice that 
incorporates all the mandated elements yet allows financial 
institutions to incorporate additional information where appropriate.
    Given the flexibility that financial institutions now have to craft 
a notice tailored to the circumstances of a particular incident, the 
Agencies believe that any single model notice will be of little use. 
Therefore, the final Guidance does not contain a model notice.
Other Changes Regarding the Content of a Notice
    The general discussion of the content of a notice in the final 
Guidance states that financial institutions should give the customer 
notice in a ``clear and conspicuous manner.'' In addition, the final 
Guidance adopts a commenter's suggestion that financial institutions 
should generally describe what the institution has done to protect a 
customer's information from further unauthorized access so that a 
customer can make decisions regarding the institution's customer 
service. This addition allows a customer to take measures to protect 
his or her accounts that are not redundant or in conflict with the 
institution's actions.
    The final Guidance also states that notice should include a 
telephone number that customers can call for further information and 
assistance. The Agencies added a new footnote to this text, which 
explains that the institution should ensure that it has reasonable 
policies and procedures in place, including trained personnel, to 
respond appropriately to customer inquiries and requests for 
assistance.
    Delivery of Customer Notice. The Agencies received numerous 
suggestions regarding the delivery of customer notice located in 
section II.D.3.a. of the proposed Guidance. The proposed Guidance 
stated that customer notice should be timely, clear, and conspicuous, 
and delivered in any manner that will ensure that the customer is 
likely to receive it. The proposed Guidance provided several examples 
of proper delivery and stated that an institution may choose to contact 
all customers affected by telephone or by mail, or for those customers 
who conduct transactions electronically, using electronic notice.
    One commenter representing a large bank trade association agreed 
that this was a correct standard. However, many other commenters 
recommended that if it costs an institution more than $250,000 to 
provide notice to customers, if the affected class of persons to be 
notified exceeds 500,000, or if an incident warrants large 
distributions of notices, the final Guidance should permit various 
forms of mass distribution of information, such as by postings on an 
Internet Web page and in national or regional media outlets.

[[Page 15748]]

Commenters explained that the CDPA contains such a provision.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See CAL. CIV. CODE Sec.  1798.82(g)(3) (West 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One commenter suggested that a financial institution should only 
provide notice in response to inquiries. By contrast, other commenters 
stated that the final Guidance should make clear that general notice on 
a Web site is inadequate and that financial institutions should provide 
individual notice to customers.
    The Agencies determined that the provision in the proposed Guidance 
that notice be delivered in a ``timely, clear, and conspicuous'' manner 
already appears elsewhere in the Guidance and does not relate to manner 
of delivery. This phrase appears elsewhere in the final Guidance and is 
unnecessary here.
    The Agencies have decided not to include a provision in the final 
Guidance that permits notice through a posting on the Web or through 
the media in order to provide notice to a specific number of customers 
or where the cost of notice to individual customers would exceed a 
specific dollar amount. The Agencies believe that the thresholds 
suggested by commenters would not be appropriate in every case, 
especially in connection with incidents involving smaller institutions.
    Therefore, the final Guidance states that customer notice should be 
delivered in any manner that is designed to ensure that a customer can 
reasonably be expected to receive it. This standard places the 
responsibility on the financial institution to select a method to 
deliver notice that is designed to ensure that a customer is likely to 
receive notice.
    The final Guidance also provides examples of proper delivery noting 
that an institution may choose to contact all customers affected by 
telephone or by mail, or by electronic mail for those customers for 
whom it has a valid e-mail address and who have agreed to receive 
electronic communications from the institution.
    Some commenters questioned the effect of other laws on the proposed 
Guidance. A few commenters noted that electronic notice should conform 
to the requirements of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National 
Commerce Act (E-Sign Act), 15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.
    The final Guidance does not discuss a financial institution's 
obligations under the E-Sign Act. The Agencies note that the final 
Guidance specifically contemplates that a financial institution may 
give notice electronically or by telephone. There is no requirement 
that notice be provided in writing. Therefore, the final Guidance does 
not trigger any consent requirements under the E-Sign Act.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ Under the E-Sign Act, if a statute, regulation, or other 
rule of law requires that information be provided or made available 
to a consumer in writing, certain consent procedures apply. See 15 
U.S.C. 7001(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Still other commenters requested clarification that a telephone 
call made to a customer for purposes of complying with the final 
Guidance is for ``emergency purposes'' under the Telephone Consumer 
Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. 227 (TCPA). These commenters noted that this 
is important because under the TCPA and its implementing 
regulation,\33\ it is unlawful to initiate a telephone call to any 
residential phone line using an artificial or prerecorded voice to 
deliver a message, without the prior express consent of the called 
party, unless such call is for ``emergency purposes.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ 47 CFR 64.1200.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final Guidance does not address the TCPA, because the TCPA is 
interpreted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the FCC 
has not yet taken a position on this issue.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ The Agencies note, however, that the TCPA and its 
implementing regulations generally exempt calls made to any person 
with whom the caller has an established business relationship at the 
time the call is made. See, e.g., 47 CFR 64.1200(a)(1)(iv). Thus, 
the TCPA would not appear to prohibit a financial institution's 
telephone calls to its own customers. In addition, the FCC's 
regulations state that the phrase for ``emergency purposes'' means 
calls made necessary in any situation affecting the health and 
safety of consumers. 47 CFR 64.1200(f)(2). See also FCC Report and 
Order adopting rules and regulations implementing the TCPA, October 
16, 1992, available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/donotcall/, paragraph 
51 (calls from utilities to notify customers of service outages, and 
to warn customers of discontinuance of service are included within 
the exemption for emergencies). Financial institutions will give 
customer notice under the final Guidance for a public safety 
purpose, namely, to permit their customers to protect themselves 
where their sensitive information is likely to be misused, for 
example, to facilitate identity theft. Therefore, the Agencies 
believe that the exemption for emergency purposes likely would 
include customer notice that is provided by telephone using an 
artificial or prerecorded voice message call.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Effective Date

    Many commenters noted that the proposed Guidance did not contain a 
delayed effective date. They suggested that the Agencies include a 
transition period to allow adequate time for financial institutions to 
implement the final Guidance.
    The final Guidance is an interpretation of existing provisions in 
section 501(b) of the GLBA and the Security Guidelines. A delayed 
effective date is not required under the APA, 12 U.S.C. 553(d)(2), or 
the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 
1994, 12 U.S.C. 4802, which requires a delayed effective date for new 
regulations, because the final Guidance is a statement of policy.
    Given the comments received, the Agencies recognize that not every 
financial institution currently has a response program that is 
consistent with the final Guidance. The Agencies expect these 
institutions to implement the final Guidance as soon as possible. 
However, we appreciate that some institutions may need additional time 
to develop new compliance procedures, modify systems, and train staff 
in order to implement an adequate response program. The Agencies will 
take into account the good faith efforts made by each institution to 
develop a response program that is consistent with the final Guidance, 
together with all other relevant circumstances, when examining the 
adequacy of an institution's information security program.

VI. OTS Conforming and Technical Change

    OTS is making a conforming, technical change to its Security 
Procedures Rule at 12 CFR 568.5. That regulation currently provides 
that savings associations and subsidiaries that are not functionally 
regulated must comply with the Security Guidelines in Appendix B to 
part 570. OTS is adding a sentence to make clear that Supplement A to 
Appendix B is intended as interpretive guidance only.
    With regard to this rule change, OTS finds that there is good cause 
to dispense with prior notice and comment and with the 30-day delay of 
effective date mandated by the Administrative Procedure Act. 5 U.S.C. 
553. OTS believes that these procedures are unnecessary and contrary to 
the public interest because the revision merely makes conforming and 
technical changes to an existing provision. A conforming and technical 
change is necessary to make clear that Supplement A to Appendix B to 
part 570 is intended as interpretive guidance only. Because the 
amendment in the rule is not substantive, it will not affect savings 
associations.
    With regard to this rule change, OTS further finds that the Riegle 
Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 does not 
apply because the revision imposes no additional requirements and makes 
only a technical and conforming change to an existing regulation.

[[Page 15749]]

VII. Impact of Guidance

    The Agencies invited comment on the potential burden associated 
with the customer notice provisions for financial institutions 
implementing the proposed Guidance. The Agencies also asked for 
information about the anticipated burden that may arise from the 
questions posed by customers who receive the notices. In addition, the 
proposed Guidance asked whether the Agencies should consider how the 
burden may vary depending upon the size and complexity of a financial 
institution. The Agencies also asked for information about the amount 
of burden, if any, the proposed Guidance would impose on service 
providers.
    Although many commenters representing financial institutions stated 
that they already have a response program in place, they also noted 
that the Agencies had underestimated the burden that would be imposed 
on financial institutions and their customers by the proposed Guidance. 
Some commenters stated that the proposed Guidance would require greater 
time, expenditure, and documentation for audit and compliance purposes. 
Other commenters stated that the costs of providing notice and 
requiring a sufficient number of appropriately trained employees to be 
available to answer customer inquiries and provide assistance could be 
substantial.
    Yet other commenters stated that the Agencies failed to adequately 
consider the burden to customers who begin to receive numerous notices 
of ``unauthorized access'' to their data. They stated that the stress 
to customers of having to change account numbers, change passwords, and 
monitor their credit reports would be enormous and could be unnecessary 
because the standard in the proposed Guidance would require notice when 
information subject to unauthorized access might be, but would not 
necessarily be, misused.
    Some commenters maintained that the proposed Guidance would be 
especially burdensome for small community banks, which one commenter 
asserted are the lowest risk targets. These commenters stated that the 
most burdensome elements of the proposed Guidance would be creating a 
general policy, establishing procedures and training staff. They added 
that developing and implementing new procedures for determining when, 
where and how to provide notice and procedures for monitoring accounts 
would also be burdensome. One commenter recommended that the agencies 
exempt institutions with assets of under $500 million from having to 
comply with the Guidance.
    Finally, a trade association commenter stated that the notice 
requirements in the proposed Guidance would impose a large burden on 
the nationwide consumer reporting agencies, over which they have no 
control and no means of recouping costs.
    The Agencies have addressed the burdens identified by commenters as 
follows. First, the Agencies eliminated many of the more prescriptive 
elements of the response program described in the proposed Guidance. 
The final Guidance states that an institution's response program should 
be risk-based. It lists a number of components that the program should 
contain.
    The final Guidance does not detail the steps that an institution 
should take to contain and control a security incident to prevent 
further unauthorized access to or use of customer information. It also 
does not state that an institution should secure all accounts that can 
be accessed using the same account number or name and password 
combination until such time as the institution and the customer can 
agree on a course of action. Instead, the final Guidance leaves such 
measures to the discretion of the institution and gives examples of the 
steps that an institution should consider, such as monitoring, 
freezing, or closing affected accounts. Thus, under the final Guidance 
a small institution may choose to close an affected account in place of 
monitoring the account, an element of the proposed Guidance that 
smaller institutions identified as potentially very costly.
    Though the final Guidance still states that notification to 
regulators should be a part of an institution's response program, it 
states that notice should only be given when the institution becomes 
aware of an incident of unauthorized access to or use of ``sensitive'' 
customer information. This standard should result in fewer instances of 
notice to the regulators than under the proposed Guidance. The final 
Guidance also makes clear that when the security incident involves a 
service provider, the institution may authorize the service provider to 
notify the institution's regulator.
    The standard of notice to customers also has been modified to be 
less burdensome to institutions and their customers. The Agencies 
believe that under this new standard, customers will be less likely to 
be alarmed needlessly, and institutions will no longer be asked to 
prove a negative `` namely, that misuse of information is unlikely to 
occur. In addition, the Agencies also have provided institutions with 
greater discretion to determine what should be contained in a notice to 
customers.
    The Agencies do not believe that there is a basis for exempting 
small institutions from the Guidance. For example, many small 
institutions outsource functions to large service providers that have 
been the target of those seeking to misuse customer information. 
Therefore, the Agencies believe that all institutions should prepare 
customer response programs including customer notification procedures 
that can be used in the event the institution determines that misuse of 
its information about a customer has occurred or is reasonably 
possible. However, as noted above, the Agencies recognize that within 
the framework of the Guidance, an institution's program will vary 
depending on the size and complexity of the institution and the nature 
and scope of its activities.
    Finally, to address comments relating to the potential burden on 
the nationwide consumer reporting agencies, as noted previously, the 
Guidance no longer suggests that customer notice always include advice 
to contact the nationwide consumer reporting agencies. The Agencies 
recognize that not all security breaches warrant such contacts. For 
example, we recognize that it may not always be in the best interest of 
a consumer to have a fraud alert placed in the consumer's file because 
the fraud alert may have an adverse impact on the consumer's ability to 
obtain credit.

VIII. Regulatory Analysis

A. Paperwork Reduction Act

Burden Estimates for the OCC, FDIC, and OTS
    Certain provisions of the final Guidance contain ``collection of 
information'' requirements as defined in the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (PRA). An agency may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an information 
collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) control number.
    The Agencies requested comment on a proposed information collection 
as part of the notice requesting comment on the proposed Guidance. An 
analysis of the comments related to paperwork burden and commenters' 
recommendations is provided below. The OCC, FDIC, and OTS submitted 
their proposed information collections to OMB for review and approval 
and the collections have been approved.

OCC: 1557-0227

[[Page 15750]]

FDIC: 3064-0145
OTS: 1550-0110

    The Agencies have reconsidered the burden estimates published in 
the Proposed Guidance in light of the comments received asserting that 
the paperwork burden associated with the information collection were 
underestimated, and in light of measures taken by the Agencies to 
reduce burden in this final Guidance. The Agencies agreed to increase 
the estimate for the time it will take an institution to develop 
notices and determine which customers should be notified. However, 
revisions incorporated into the final Guidance will result in the 
issuance of fewer notices than was originally estimated. A discussion 
of the comments received follows the revised estimates.
    New Estimates:

OCC

    Number of Respondents: 2,200.
    Estimated Time per Response:
    Developing Notices: 24 hours x 2,200 = 52,800 hours.
    Notifying Customers: 29 hours x 36 = 1,044 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden = 53,844 hours.

FDIC

    Number of Respondents: 5,200.
    Estimated Time per Response:
    Developing Notices: 24 hours x 5,200 = 124,800 hours.
    Notifying Customers: 29 hours x 91 = 2,639 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden = 127,439 hours.

OTS

    Number of Respondents: 880.
    Estimated Time per Response:
    Developing Notices: 24 hours x 880 = 21,120 hours.
    Notifying Customers: 29 hours x 15 = 435 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden = 21,555 hours.
    Burden Estimate for the Board:
    While this represents a statement of policy, certain provisions of 
the final Guidance encourage ``collection of information.'' See 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq. In the spirit of the PRA, the Board requested 
comment on the burden associated with a proposed information collection 
as part of the notice requesting comment on the proposed Guidance. The 
Board has approved this final information collection under its 
delegated authority from OMB.

FRB [To Be Assigned]

    Number of Respondents: 6,692.
    Estimated Time per Response:
    Developing Notices: 24 hours x 6,692 = 160,608 hours.
    Notifying Customers: 29 hours x 110 = 3,190 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden = 163,798 hours.
    Discussion of Comments:
    The information collection in the proposed Guidance stated that 
financial institutions should: (1) Develop notices to customers; and 
(2) determine which customers should receive the notices and send the 
notices to customers. The Agencies received various comments regarding 
the Agencies' burden estimates, including the estimated time per 
response and the number of recordkeepers involved.
    Some commenters stated that the burden estimates of twenty hours to 
develop and produce notices and three days to determine which customers 
should receive notice in the proposed Guidance were too low. These 
commenters stated that the Guidance should include language indicating 
that an institution be given as much time as necessary to determine the 
scope of an incident and examine which customers may be affected. One 
of these commenters stated that ten business days, as recommended by 
the California Department of Consumer Affairs Office of Privacy 
Protection, should provide an institution with a known safe harbor to 
complete the steps described lest regulated entities be subject to 
inconsistent notification deadlines from the same incident.
    These commenters misunderstood the meaning of PRA burden estimates. 
PRA burden estimates are judgments by Agencies regarding the length of 
time that it would take institutions to comply with information 
collection requirements. These estimates do not impose a deadline upon 
institutions to complete a requirement within a specific period of 
time.
    The final Guidance states that an institution should notify 
customers ``as soon as possible'' after an investigation leads it to 
conclude that misuse of customer information has occurred or is 
reasonably possible. It also states that notification may be delayed at 
the written request of law enforcement.
    The cost of disclosing information is considered part of the burden 
of an information collection. 5 CFR 1320.3(b)(1)(ix). Many commenters 
stated that the Agencies had underestimated the cost associated with 
disclosing security incidents to customers pursuant to the proposed 
Guidance. However, these commenters did not distinguish between the 
usual and customary costs of doing business and the costs of the 
disclosures associated with the information collection in the proposed 
Guidance.
    For example, one commenter stated that the Agencies' estimates did 
not include $0.60 per customer for a one-page letter, envelope, and 
first class postage; the customer service time, handling the enormous 
number of calls from customers who receive notice; or the costs 
associated with closing or reopening accounts, printing new checks or 
embossing new cards. This commenter stated that printing and mailing 
costs, alone, for one notice to its customer database, at current 
postal rates, would be at least $500,000.
    Some of the costs mentioned in this comment are non-labor costs 
associated with providing disclosures. The Agencies assumed that non-
labor costs associated with the disclosures would be negligible, 
because institutions already have in place well-developed systems for 
providing disclosures to their customers. This comment and any other 
comments received regarding the Agencies' assumptions about non-labor 
costs will be taken into account in any future estimate of the burden 
for this collection.
    Other costs mentioned in this comment, such as the cost of customer 
service time, printing checks, and embossing cards, are costs that the 
institution would incur regardless of the implementation of the final 
Guidance. These costs are not associated with an information 
collection, and, therefore, have not been factored into the Agencies' 
cost estimates.
    In addition, the estimates in this comment are based on the 
assumption that notice should always be provided by mail. However, the 
final Guidance states that financial institutions should deliver 
customer notice in any manner designed to ensure that a customer can 
reasonably be expected to receive it, such as by telephone, mail, or 
electronically for those customers for whom it has a valid e-mail 
address and who have agreed to receive communications electronically. 
The Agencies assume that given this flexibility, financial institutions 
may not necessarily choose to mail notices in every case, but may 
choose less expensive methods of delivery that ensure customers will 
reasonably be expected to receive notice.
    Another commenter concerned about the burdens imposed on consumer 
reporting agencies provided an example of a security breach involving a 
single company from which identifying information about 500,000 
military families was stolen. Among other things, the company's notice 
to its customers advised them to contact the

[[Page 15751]]

nationwide consumer reporting agencies. The commenter stated that the 
nationwide consumer reporting agencies spent approximately $1.5 million 
per company, handling approximately 365,000 inquiries from the 
company's customers.
    The final Guidance contains a number of changes that will diminish 
the costs identified by these commenters. First, the standard for 
notification in the final Guidance likely will result in fewer notices. 
In addition, the final Guidance no longer states that all notices 
should advise customers to contact the nationwide consumer reporting 
agencies. Therefore, the Agencies' estimates do not factor in the costs 
to the reporting agencies.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act applies only to rules for which an 
agency publishes a general notice of proposed rulemaking pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(b). See 5 U.S.C. 601(2). As previously noted, a general 
notice of proposed rulemaking was not published because this final 
Guidance is a general statement of policy. Thus, the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act does not apply to the final Guidance.
    With respect to OTS's revision to its regulation at 12 CFR 568.5, 
as noted above, OTS has concluded that there is good cause to dispense 
with prior notice and comment. Accordingly, OTS has further concluded 
that the Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to this final rule.

C. Executive Order 12866

    The OCC and OTS have determined that this final Guidance is not a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. With respect 
to OTS's revision to its regulation at 12 CFR 568.5, OTS has further 
determined that this final rule is not a significant regulatory action 
under Executive Order 12866.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The OCC and OTS have determined that this final Guidance is not a 
regulatory action that would require an assessment under the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), 2 U.S.C. 1531. The final Guidance 
is a general statement of policy and, therefore, the OCC and OTS have 
determined that the UMRA does not apply.
    With respect to OTS's revision to its regulation at 12 CFR 568.5, 
as noted above, OTS has concluded that there is good cause to dispense 
with prior notice and comment. Accordingly, OTS has concluded that the 
UMRA does not require an unfunded mandates analysis.

Text of Common Final Guidance

    The text of the Agencies' common final Guidance reads as follows:

Supplement A to Appendix -- to Part ----Interagency Guidance on 
Response Programs for Unauthorized Access to Customer Information and 
Customer Notice

I. Background

    This Guidance \1\ interprets section 501(b) of the Gramm-Leach-
Bliley Act (``GLBA'') and the Interagency Guidelines Establishing 
Information Security Standards (the ``Security Guidelines'')\2\ and 
describes response programs, including customer notification 
procedures, that a financial institution should develop and 
implement to address unauthorized access to or use of customer 
information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience 
to a customer. The scope of, and definitions of terms used in, this 
Guidance are identical to those of the Security Guidelines. For 
example, the term ``customer information'' is the same term used in 
the Security Guidelines, and means any record containing nonpublic 
personal information about a customer, whether in paper, electronic, 
or other form, maintained by or on behalf of the institution.
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    \1\ This Guidance is being jointly issued by the Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency (OCC), and the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS).
    \2\ 12 CFR part 30, app. B (OCC); 12 CFR part 208, app. D-2 and 
part 225, app. F (Board); 12 CFR part 364, app. B (FDIC); and 12 CFR 
part 570, app. B (OTS). The ``Interagency Guidelines Establishing 
Information Security Standards'' were formerly known as ``The 
Interagency Guidelines Establishing Standards for Safeguarding 
Customer Information.''
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A. Interagency Security Guidelines

    Section 501(b) of the GLBA required the Agencies to establish 
appropriate standards for financial institutions subject to their 
jurisdiction that include administrative, technical, and physical 
safeguards, to protect the security and confidentiality of customer 
information. Accordingly, the Agencies issued Security Guidelines 
requiring every financial institution to have an information 
security program designed to:
    1. Ensure the security and confidentiality of customer 
information;
    2. Protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the 
security or integrity of such information; and
    3. Protect against unauthorized access to or use of such 
information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience 
to any customer.

B. Risk Assessment and Controls

    1. The Security Guidelines direct every financial institution to 
assess the following risks, among others, when developing its 
information security program:
    a. Reasonably foreseeable internal and external threats that 
could result in unauthorized disclosure, misuse, alteration, or 
destruction of customer information or customer information systems;
    b. The likelihood and potential damage of threats, taking into 
consideration the sensitivity of customer information; and
    c. The sufficiency of policies, procedures, customer information 
systems, and other arrangements in place to control risks.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Security Guidelines, III.B.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Following the assessment of these risks, the Security 
Guidelines require a financial institution to design a program to 
address the identified risks. The particular security measures an 
institution should adopt will depend upon the risks presented by the 
complexity and scope of its business. At a minimum, the financial 
institution is required to consider the specific security measures 
enumerated in the Security Guidelines,\4\ and adopt those that are 
appropriate for the institution, including:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Security Guidelines, III.C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    a. Access controls on customer information systems, including 
controls to authenticate and permit access only to authorized 
individuals and controls to prevent employees from providing 
customer information to unauthorized individuals who may seek to 
obtain this information through fraudulent means;
    b. Background checks for employees with responsibilities for 
access to customer information; and
    c. Response programs that specify actions to be taken when the 
financial institution suspects or detects that unauthorized 
individuals have gained access to customer information systems, 
including appropriate reports to regulatory and law enforcement 
agencies.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Security Guidelines, III.C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Service Providers

    The Security Guidelines direct every financial institution to 
require its service providers by contract to implement appropriate 
measures designed to protect against unauthorized access to or use 
of customer information that could result in substantial harm or 
inconvenience to any customer.\6\
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    \6\ See Security Guidelines, II.B. and III.D. Further, the 
Agencies note that, in addition to contractual obligations to a 
financial institution, a service provider may be required to 
implement its own comprehensive information security program in 
accordance with the Safeguards Rule promulgated by the Federal Trade 
Commission (``FTC''), 12 CFR part 314.
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II. Response Program

    Millions of Americans, throughout the country, have been victims 
of identity theft.\7\ Identity thieves misuse personal information 
they obtain from a number of sources, including financial 
institutions, to perpetrate identity theft. Therefore, financial 
institutions should take preventative measures to safeguard customer 
information against attempts to gain unauthorized access to the 
information. For example, financial

[[Page 15752]]

institutions should place access controls on customer information 
systems and conduct background checks for employees who are 
authorized to access customer information.\8\ However, every 
financial institution should also develop and implement a risk-based 
response program to address incidents of unauthorized access to 
customer information in customer information systems \9\ that occur 
nonetheless. A response program should be a key part of an 
institution's information security program.\10\ The program should 
be appropriate to the size and complexity of the institution and the 
nature and scope of its activities.
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    \7\ The FTC estimates that nearly 10 million Americans 
discovered they were victims of some form of identity theft in 2002. 
See The Federal Trade Commission, Identity Theft Survey Report, 
(September 2003), available at http://www.ftc.gov/os/2003/09/synovatereport.pdf.
    \8\ Institutions should also conduct background checks of 
employees to ensure that the institution does not violate 12 U.S.C. 
1829, which prohibits an institution from hiring an individual 
convicted of certain criminal offenses or who is subject to a 
prohibition order under 12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(6).
    \9\ Under the Guidelines, an institution's customer information 
systems consist of all of the methods used to access, collect, 
store, use, transmit, protect, or dispose of customer information, 
including the systems maintained by its service providers. See 
Security Guidelines, I.C.2.d (I.C.2.c for OTS).
    \10\ See FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook, 
Information Security Booklet, Dec. 2002 available at http://www.ffiec.gov/ffiecinfobase/html_pages/infosec_book_frame.htm. 
Federal Reserve SR 97-32, Sound Practice Guidance for Information 
Security for Networks, Dec. 4, 1997; OCC Bulletin 2000-14, 
``Infrastructure Threats--Intrusion Risks'' (May 15, 2000), for 
additional guidance on preventing, detecting, and responding to 
intrusions into financial institution computer systems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, each institution should be able to address 
incidents of unauthorized access to customer information in customer 
information systems maintained by its domestic and foreign service 
providers. Therefore, consistent with the obligations in the 
Guidelines that relate to these arrangements, and with existing 
guidance on this topic issued by the Agencies,\11\ an institution's 
contract with its service provider should require the service 
provider to take appropriate actions to address incidents of 
unauthorized access to the financial institution's customer 
information, including notification to the institution as soon as 
possible of any such incident, to enable the institution to 
expeditiously implement its response program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See Federal Reserve SR Ltr. 00-04, Outsourcing of 
Information and Transaction Processing, Feb. 9, 2000; OCC Bulletin 
2001-47, ``Third-Party Relationships Risk Management Principles,'' 
Nov. 1, 2001; FDIC FIL 68-99, Risk Assessment Tools and Practices 
for Information System Security, July 7, 1999; OTS Thrift Bulletin 
82a, Third Party Arrangements, Sept. 1, 2004.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Components of a Response Program

    1. At a minimum, an institution's response program should 
contain procedures for the following:
    a. Assessing the nature and scope of an incident, and 
identifying what customer information systems and types of customer 
information have been accessed or misused;
    b. Notifying its primary Federal regulator as soon as possible 
when the institution becomes aware of an incident involving 
unauthorized access to or use of sensitive customer information, as 
defined below;
    c. Consistent with the Agencies' Suspicious Activity Report 
(``SAR'') regulations,\12\ notifying appropriate law enforcement 
authorities, in addition to filing a timely SAR in situations 
involving Federal criminal violations requiring immediate attention, 
such as when a reportable violation is ongoing;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ An institution's obligation to file a SAR is set out in the 
Agencies' SAR regulations and Agency guidance. See 12 CFR 21.11 
(national banks, Federal branches and agencies); 12 CFR 208.62 
(State member banks); 12 CFR 211.5(k) (Edge and agreement 
corporations); 12 CFR 211.24(f) (uninsured State branches and 
agencies of foreign banks); 12 CFR 225.4(f) (bank holding companies 
and their nonbank subsidiaries); 12 CFR part 353 (State non-member 
banks); and 12 CFR 563.180 (savings associations). National banks 
must file SARs in connection with computer intrusions and other 
computer crimes. See OCC Bulletin 2000-14, ``Infrastructure 
Threats--Intrusion Risks'' (May 15, 2000); Advisory Letter 97-9, 
``Reporting Computer Related Crimes'' (November 19, 1997) (general 
guidance still applicable though instructions for new SAR form 
published in 65 FR 1229, 1230 (January 7, 2000)). See also Federal 
Reserve SR 01-11, Identity Theft and Pretext Calling, Apr. 26, 2001; 
SR 97-28, Guidance Concerning Reporting of Computer Related Crimes 
by Financial Institutions, Nov. 6, 1997; FDIC FIL 48-2000, 
Suspicious Activity Reports, July 14, 2000; FIL 47-97, Preparation 
of Suspicious Activity Reports, May 6, 1997; OTS CEO Memorandum 139, 
Identity Theft and Pretext Calling, May 4, 2001; CEO Memorandum 126, 
New Suspicious Activity Report Form, July 5, 2000; http://www.ots.treas.gov/BSA (for the latest SAR form and filing 
instructions required by OTS as of July 1, 2003).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    d. Taking appropriate steps to contain and control the incident 
to prevent further unauthorized access to or use of customer 
information, for example, by monitoring, freezing, or closing 
affected accounts, while preserving records and other evidence;\13\ 
and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook, 
Information Security Booklet, Dec. 2002, pp. 68-74.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    e. Notifying customers when warranted.
    2. Where an incident of unauthorized access to customer 
information involves customer information systems maintained by an 
institution's service providers, it is the responsibility of the 
financial institution to notify the institution's customers and 
regulator. However, an institution may authorize or contract with 
its service provider to notify the institution's customers or 
regulator on its behalf.

III. Customer Notice

    Financial institutions have an affirmative duty to protect their 
customers' information against unauthorized access or use. Notifying 
customers of a security incident involving the unauthorized access 
or use of the customer's information in accordance with the standard 
set forth below is a key part of that duty. Timely notification of 
customers is important to manage an institution's reputation risk. 
Effective notice also may reduce an institution's legal risk, assist 
in maintaining good customer relations, and enable the institution's 
customers to take steps to protect themselves against the 
consequences of identity theft. When customer notification is 
warranted, an institution may not forgo notifying its customers of 
an incident because the institution believes that it may be 
potentially embarrassed or inconvenienced by doing so.

A. Standard for Providing Notice

    When a financial institution becomes aware of an incident of 
unauthorized access to sensitive customer information, the 
institution should conduct a reasonable investigation to promptly 
determine the likelihood that the information has been or will be 
misused. If the institution determines that misuse of its 
information about a customer has occurred or is reasonably possible, 
it should notify the affected customer as soon as possible. Customer 
notice may be delayed if an appropriate law enforcement agency 
determines that notification will interfere with a criminal 
investigation and provides the institution with a written request 
for the delay. However, the institution should notify its customers 
as soon as notification will no longer interfere with the 
investigation.

1. Sensitive Customer Information

    Under the Guidelines, an institution must protect against 
unauthorized access to or use of customer information that could 
result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer. 
Substantial harm or inconvenience is most likely to result from 
improper access to sensitive customer information because this type 
of information is most likely to be misused, as in the commission of 
identity theft. For purposes of this Guidance, sensitive customer 
information means a customer's name, address, or telephone number, 
in conjunction with the customer's social security number, driver's 
license number, account number, credit or debit card number, or a 
personal identification number or password that would permit access 
to the customer's account. Sensitive customer information also 
includes any combination of components of customer information that 
would allow someone to log onto or access the customer's account, 
such as user name and password or password and account number.

2. Affected Customers

    If a financial institution, based upon its investigation, can 
determine from its logs or other data precisely which customers' 
information has been improperly accessed, it may limit notification 
to those customers with regard to whom the institution determines 
that misuse of their information has occurred or is reasonably 
possible. However, there may be situations where the institution 
determines that a group of files has been accessed improperly, but 
is unable to identify which specific customers' information has been 
accessed. If the circumstances of the unauthorized access lead the 
institution to determine that misuse of the information is 
reasonably possible, it should notify all customers in the group.

B. Content of Customer Notice

    1. Customer notice should be given in a clear and conspicuous 
manner. The notice should describe the incident in general terms and 
the type of customer information that was the subject of 
unauthorized access or use. It also should generally describe what 
the institution has done to protect the

[[Page 15753]]

customers' information from further unauthorized access. In 
addition, it should include a telephone number that customers can 
call for further information and assistance.\14\ The notice also 
should remind customers of the need to remain vigilant over the next 
twelve to twenty-four months, and to promptly report incidents of 
suspected identity theft to the institution. The notice should 
include the following additional items, when appropriate:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ The institution should, therefore, ensure that it has 
reasonable policies and procedures in place, including trained 
personnel, to respond appropriately to customer inquiries and 
requests for assistance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    a. A recommendation that the customer review account statements 
and immediately report any suspicious activity to the institution;
    b. A description of fraud alerts and an explanation of how the 
customer may place a fraud alert in the customer's consumer reports 
to put the customer's creditors on notice that the customer may be a 
victim of fraud;
    c. A recommendation that the customer periodically obtain credit 
reports from each nationwide credit reporting agency and have 
information relating to fraudulent transactions deleted;
    d. An explanation of how the customer may obtain a credit report 
free of charge; and
    e. Information about the availability of the FTC's online 
guidance regarding steps a consumer can take to protect against 
identity theft. The notice should encourage the customer to report 
any incidents of identity theft to the FTC, and should provide the 
FTC's Web site address and toll-free telephone number that customers 
may use to obtain the identity theft guidance and report suspected 
incidents of identity theft.\15\
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    \15\ Currently, the FTC Web site for the ID Theft brochure and 
the FTC Hotline phone number are http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft and 
1-877-IDTHEFT. The institution may also refer customers to any 
materials developed pursuant to section 151(b) of the FACT Act 
(educational materials developed by the FTC to teach the public how 
to prevent identity theft).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. The Agencies encourage financial institutions to notify the 
nationwide consumer reporting agencies prior to sending notices to a 
large number of customers that include contact information for the 
reporting agencies.

C. Delivery of Customer Notice

    Customer notice should be delivered in any manner designed to 
ensure that a customer can reasonably be expected to receive it. For 
example, the institution may choose to contact all customers 
affected by telephone or by mail, or by electronic mail for those 
customers for whom it has a valid e-mail address and who have agreed 
to receive communications electronically.

Adoption of Final Guidance

    The agency-specific adoption of the common final Guidance, which 
appears at the end of the common preamble, follows.

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 30

    Banks, banking, Consumer protection, National banks, Privacy, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

12 CFR Part 208

    Banks, banking, Consumer protection, Information, Privacy, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

12 CFR Part 225

    Banks, banking, Holding companies, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

12 CFR Part 364

    Administrative practice and procedure, Bank deposit insurance, 
Banks, banking, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Safety and 
Soundness.

12 CFR Part 568

    Consumer protection, Privacy, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Savings associations, Security measures.

12 CFR Part 570

    Accounting, Administrative practice and procedure, Bank deposit 
insurance, Consumer protection, Holding companies, Privacy, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Safety and soundness, Savings 
associations.

Department of the Treasury

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR CHAPTER I

Authority and Issuance

0
For the reasons set out in the joint preamble, the OCC amends part 30 
of chapter I of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations to read as 
follows:

PART 30--SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS STANDARDS

0
1. The authority citation for part 30 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 93a, 371, 1818, 1831p, 3102(b); 15 U.S.C. 
1681s, 1681w, 6801, 6805(b)(1).


0
2. Revise the heading of Appendix B to read as follows:

Appendix B to Part 30--Interagency Guidelines Establishing Information 
Security Standards

* * * * *

0
3. Amend Appendix B to part 30 by adding a new Supplement A to the end 
of the appendix to read as set forth at the end of the common preamble.

    Dated: March 8, 2005.
Julie L. Williams,
Acting Comptroller of the Currency.

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR CHAPTER II

Authority and Issuance

0
For the reasons set out in the joint preamble, the Board amends part 
208 and 225 of chapter II of title 12 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations to read as follows:

PART 208--MEMBERSHIP OF STATE BANKING INSTITUTIONS IN THE FEDERAL 
RESERVE SYSTEM (REGULATION H)

0
1. The authority citation for 12 CFR part 208 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 24, 36, 92a, 93a, 248(a), 248(c), 321-338a, 
371d, 461, 481-486, 601, 611, 1814, 1816, 1820(d)(9), 1823(j), 
1828(o), 1831, 1831o, 1831p-1, 1831r-1, 1831w, 1831x, 1835a, 1882, 
2901-2907, 3105, 3310, 3331-3351, and 3906-3909, 15 U.S.C. 78b, 
78l(b), 78l(g), 78l(i), 78o-4(c)(5), 78q, 78q-1, 78w, 1681s, 1681w, 
6801 and 6805; 31 U.S.C. 5318, 42 U.S.C. 4012a, 4104a, 4104b, 4106, 
and 4128.


0
2. Revise the heading of Appendix D-Z to read as follows:

Appendix D-2 to Part 208--Interagency Guidelines Establishing 
Information Security Standards.

* * * * *

0
3. Amend Appendix D-2 to part 208 by adding a new Supplement A to the 
end of the appendix to read as set forth at the end of the common 
preamble.

PART 225--BANK HOLDING COMPANIES AND CHANGE IN BANK CONTROL 
(REGULATION Y)

0
4. The authority citation for 12 CFR part 225 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(13), 1818, 1828(o), 1831i, 1831p-1, 
1843(c)(8), 1844(b), 1972(1), 3106, 3108, 3310, 3331-3351, 3906, 
3907, and 3909; 15 U.S.C. 1681s, 1681w, 6801 and 6805.

0
5. Revise the heading of Appendix F to read as follows:

Appendix F to Part 225--Interagency Guidelines Establishing Information 
Security Standards

* * * * *

0
6. Amend Appendix F to part 225 by adding a new Supplement A to the end 
of the appendix to read as set forth at the end of the common preamble.


[[Page 15754]]


    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, March 21, 2005.
Jennifer J. Johnson,
Secretary of the Board.

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR CHAPTER III

Authority and Issuance

0
For the reasons set out in the joint preamble, the FDIC amends part 364 
of chapter III of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations to read 
as follows:

PART 364--STANDARDS FOR SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS

0
1. The authority citation for part 364 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1818 and 1819 (Tenth); 15 U.S.C. 1681b, 
1681s, and 1681w.


0
2. Revise the heading of Appendix B to read as follows:

Appendix B to Part 364--Interagency Guidelines Establishing Information 
Security Standards

* * * * *

0
3. Amend Appendix B to part 364 by adding a new Supplement A to the end 
of the appendix to read as set forth at the end of the common preamble.

    Dated at Washington, DC, this 18th day of March, 2005.

    By order of the Board of Directors.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Thrift Supervision

12 CFR CHAPTER V

Authority and Issuance

0
For the reasons set out in the joint preamble, the OTS amends parts 568 
and 570 of chapter V of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations to 
read as follows:

PART 568--SECURITY PROCEDURES

0
1. Revise the part heading for part 568 to read as shown above.

0
2. Revise the authority citation for part 568 to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1462a, 1463, 1464, 1467a, 1828, 1831p-1, 
1881-1884; 15 U.S.C. 1681s and 1681w; 15 U.S.C. 6801 and 6805(b)(1).


0
3. Amend Sec.  568.5 by adding a new sentence after the final sentence 
to read as follows:


Sec.  568.5  Protection of customer information.

    * * * Supplement A to Appendix B to part 570 provides interpretive 
guidance.

PART 570--SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS GUIDELINES AND COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES

0
4. Revise the authority citation for part 570 to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1462a, 1463, 1464, 1467a, 1828, 1831p-1, 
1881-1884; 15 U.S.C. 1681s and 1681w; 15 U.S.C. 6801 and 6805(b)(1).


0
5. Revise the heading of Appendix B to part 570 to read as follows:

Appendix B to Part 570--Interagency Guidelines Establishing Information 
Security Standards

* * * * *

0
6. Amend Appendix B to part 570 by adding a new Supplement A to the end 
of the appendix to read as set forth at the end of the common preamble.

    Dated: March 8, 2005.

    By the Office of Thrift Supervision.
James E. Gilleran,
Director.
[FR Doc. 05-5980 Filed 3-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-33-P; (25%); 6210-01-P; (25%); 6714-01-P; (25%); 
6720-01-P (25%)