Heartland Bank Data Breach Exposes Social Security Numbers

Heartland Bank recently experienced a data breach that has raised concerns among its customers. The breach was disclosed to the Massachusetts Attorney General's office on February 7, 2025, involved unauthorized access to sensitive customer information.

The disclosure stated it affected 10 individuals in Massachusetts, although the full scope across other states has not yet been disclosed to other state attorneys general.

The breach specifically involved an email data security incident that may have exposed customers' names and Social Security numbers. While the exact method of the breach is not fully detailed, the exposure of such sensitive information indicates a significant security lapse.

• Information Exposed:
• Social Security numbers
• Names

Heartland Bank's Response

In response to the breach, Heartland Bank has taken several measures to assist affected customers and mitigate potential damage. The bank is offering a complimentary two-year subscription to credit monitoring services through Cyberscout, a TransUnion company specializing in fraud assistance and remediation services. This service includes alerts for changes to credit files and proactive fraud assistance.

Customers are encouraged to enroll in the credit monitoring services within 90 days from the date of the notification letter. The enrollment process requires an internet connection and an email account. Heartland Bank has also advised customers to remain vigilant for incidents of fraud or identity theft by reviewing account statements and credit reports for any unauthorized activity over the next 12 to 24 months.

For additional steps, customers can place fraud alerts or security freezes on their credit reports to prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts in their names. Detailed instructions for these actions are provided in the notice to consumers.

For more details on the breach disclosure, you can visit the Massachusetts Attorney General's website.