Computer hackers breached the Citi bank’s network and accessed data on thousands of bank card holders.
Citigroup said about one percent of its card customers were affected by this breach, which a report in the Financial Times said had been discovered in May during routine monitoring.
The names of customers, account numbers and contact information, including email addresses, were viewed by the hackers, the bank told.
However, the bank said that other information such as birth dates, social security numbers, card expiration dates and card security codes (CVV) were not compromised.
“We are contacting customers whose information was impacted. Citi has implemented enhanced procedures to prevent a recurrence of this type of event,” Sean Kevelighan, a US-based spokesperson said.
Citigroup joins a growing list of companies that have suffered such cyber attacks.
Data storage firm EMC Ltd offered to replace millions of electronic keys after hackers used data from its RSA security division to break into the network of arms supplier and information technology provider Lockheed Martin.
Electronics giant Sony has reported several attacks, including one in which hackers accessed the personal information on seventy seven million PlayStation Network and Qriocity accounts. Sony was then criticised for the delay in telling account holders that their information had been stolen by hackers.
