FDIC Federal Register Citations

Dear FDIC:

When you consider the privacy of personal information which banks might be restricted from sharing or not, please allow my input.

I am very concerned about my privacy and go to great ends to see that it is protected. I do not wish to have my efforts undermined by a financial institution which feels it has a right to make a buck off of my name without even gaining my permission. If my name is worth something to them, it should be worth something to me.

A privacy provision should be broadly applied to anyone doing business with a financial institution, even, for example, someone who occasionally buys travelers' checks. All customer information should be protected unless specific consent to share that information is obtained from that customer. This includes name, address, and phone number. My name, address, and phone number are not available, for example, in a phone book. A financial institution likely would not know this.

Financial institutions can enclose flyers or print information on their customers' statements advising the customers of other services available from affiliates. Let the customers decide if they wish to contact these affiliates to make use of those services.

At the very least, consumers should be told if companies or government agencies collect, use, or disclose personally identifiable information. They should have access to and be able to correct their personal information. Companies and government agencies must get affirmative consent before disclosing private personal or financial information. And, federal privacy protections nust not pre-empt stronger state privacy laws.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, J H Smith