Kiwibank apologises after privacy breach

Kiwibank has apologised to all customers affected by a privacy breach at the Greymouth branch.

An envelope full of confidential documents was handed to a member of the public when they went into the Post Shop office last month.

The individual took it home and opened it, unaware of what was inside, before passing the documents to a friend who notified the Greymouth Star.

Kiwibank communications manager Bruce Thompson said yesterday that 18 customers had been affected.

"All have been contacted and apologies made and explanations about what happened provided to them."

Mr Thompson said the documents had been intended for the Kiwibank head office in Wellington and were given to a client in error.

"It was human error, it was a mistake."

The documents consisted of requests for changes to accounts. Mr Thompson said that when the documents were returned, the changes were made.

The bank had conducted a review and he reassured customers that they had "tightened up on procedures".

This breach of privacy was "very rare" and Mr Thompson said staff were "horrified" it had occurred.

As they were operating out of a temporary premises, some procedures had been changed, which contributed to the breach. The Post Shop is expected to move back to its original site on Tainui St next month.