• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechCybersecurity

American Bankers Association pushes for stronger data security; discloses breach

Robert Hackett
By
Robert Hackett
Robert Hackett
Down Arrow Button Icon
Robert Hackett
By
Robert Hackett
Robert Hackett
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 2, 2015, 1:47 PM ET
512136509
Silhouette of male hand typing on laptop keyboard at nightPhotograph by Rafe Swan — Getty Images/Cultura RF

The American Bankers Association, a major financial industry trade group that lobbies for stronger data protection laws, announced on Thursday that its computer systems had been breached and thousands of members’ personal information had been compromised.

On the same day, the organization declared that it would participate in National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an awareness campaign that spans the month of October and is organized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as well as the non-profit National Cybersecurity Alliance, which includes board members from Microsoft (MSFT), Facebook (FB), Symantec (SYMC), Google (GOOG), and other big tech companies.

The association said that the attack affected users of it’s website’s shopping cart tool, which is mostly used by members making purchases or registering for events through aba.com. In total, the association counts 6,400 records—usernames and passwords—as having been compromised, a spokesperson confirmed with Fortune.

“We have seen no evidence that the hacker has also accessed credit card information or other personal financial information,” said Frank Keating, CEO and president of the association, in a statement provided to Fortune, which is also available online as part of an FAQ on the organization’s website. The statement also notes, however, that the data were posted online.

Translation: If you signed up for an ABA account and have reused that password for other online accounts, go change those passwords immediately.

A security alert on the shopping cart login webpage on aba.com.

The association said that the breach appears to be confined to its shopping cart tool. “To the best of our knowledge, ABA’s other systems are secure,” states the FAQ.

“ABA is working with a cybersecurity forensics company to identify the origin and full extent of this breach,” Keating said in the statement provided to Fortune, also available online as part of the FAQ. “We also continue to work with cyber information-sharing groups such as the FS-ISAC to identify threats, spot breaches and respond quickly.”

The irony is palpable, of course. The association often advocates before Congress for stricter policies and security standards to protect shoppers from security incidents such as these. It also hosts security tips for consumers on its website. The timing of the breach announcement with the association’s participation in the cyber awareness month appears to be an unfortunately timed coincidence.

The American Bankers Association is not the only participating member to announce a breach recently. Experian (EXPGY) announced that been hit with a breach on Thursday, too. Trump Hotels also recently announced a breach.

Subscribe to Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily business-tech newsletter.

For more on data breaches, watch this video below.

About the Author
Robert Hackett
By Robert Hackett
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

CryptoBlockchain
Citadel and Cathie Wood back Zero, a new blockchain designed for traditional finance
By Leo SchwartzFebruary 10, 2026
4 hours ago
C-SuiteNext to Lead
Why GM’s supply-chain chief sees suppressed dissent as a business risk
By Ruth UmohFebruary 10, 2026
5 hours ago
OpenAI Sam Altman looking into the distance.
AIOpenAI
OpenAI disputes watchdog’s claim it violated California’s new AI safety law with latest model release
By Beatrice NolanFebruary 10, 2026
6 hours ago
Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff on stage, scowling.
AIEye on AI
AI agents from Anthropic and OpenAI aren’t killing SaaS—but incumbent software players can’t sleep easy
By Jeremy KahnFebruary 10, 2026
7 hours ago
A woman sits in front of her laptop, holding her hand to her head
AIthe future of work
In the workforce, AI is having the opposite effect it was supposed to, UC Berkeley researchers warn
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezFebruary 10, 2026
7 hours ago
Photo of technicians looking at an industrial robot
Future of WorkLayoffs
‘AI-washing’ and ‘forever layoffs’: Why companies keep cutting jobs, even amid rising profits
By Claire ZillmanFebruary 10, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
America borrowed $43.5 billion a week in the first four months of the fiscal year, with debt interest on track to be over $1 trillion for 2026
By Eleanor PringleFebruary 10, 2026
14 hours ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Meet Jody Allen, the billionaire owner of the Seattle Seahawks, who plans to sell the team and donate the proceeds to charity
By Jake AngeloFebruary 9, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
AI
As billionaires bail, Mark Zuckerberg doubles down on California with $50 million donation
By Sydney LakeFebruary 9, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
China might be beginning to back away from U.S. debt as investors get nervous about overexposure to American assets
By Eleanor PringleFebruary 9, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold says his plumber dad played with him every day after work, no matter how tough his day was—and that taught him resilience
By Emma BurleighFebruary 9, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, February 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerFebruary 9, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.