Sensitive information about 10,000 Bank of Ireland customers has been stolen.
The Data Protection Commissioner has told RTE News he is investigating the theft of four laptops from Bank of Ireland's life assurance division.
The bank informed the Commissioner about the missing laptops on Friday. Commissioner Billy Hawkes said he was investigating it 'as a matter of urgency'.
He said the investigation would focus on the security measures in relation to the computers and the information they contained.
The records of 10,000 customers on the computers included credit history, some medical backgrounds for life insurance quotes, personal pension plan details, dates of birth, addresses and bank account details. All the material was contained on the four laptops stolen between June and October 2007.
The laptops were not encrypted, therefore whoever has them has full access to the customers' data. A spokesperson for the bank has confirmed to RTE that it is currently encrypting all its computer - up to 5,000 of the bank's laptops - a process that is likely to take two weeks.
The bank says the accounts are being monitored and there has been no indication of any unusual activity on the accounts. RTE News understands that none of the customers has been informed, but the bank is intending to do so shortly.
An investigation is currently being conducted by the Financial Regulator and the Data Protection Commissioner. Both found out about the laptops last week, months after they were stolen. Bank of Ireland also said an internal investigation was underway.
