Santander admits customer statement error

Santander Bank has admitted that up to 35,000 people could have received other customer's bank account information as well as payment and salary details after a printing error saw pages from other customers statements printed on paperwork sent out to customers.

The error affected current account holders statements dated 18th December. Pages two and three of the statements included details of other customer transactions. Santander, which has about five million current account holders in the UK has apologised for the error but says there is no extra risk of fraud as a result of the printing error.

Fortunately, the printer re-sets after every 35,000 statements so the problem was limited to just the one print run of 35,000 statements. Santander informed the Financial Service Authority (FSA) after receiving complaints.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused and have taken immediate steps to correct this," said a spokesman for Santander. The spokesman added that although the name and account number of another customer could be seen, the information was not enough to gain access to the account.

The FSA can fine Santander for this error and has made a number of fines for similar incidents and errors by UK banks in the past.