BNP Paribas Fortis can share customer data

Belgium’s largest bank, BNP Paribas Fortis, at the end of last year rewrote its banking terms and conditions that govern the relationship with its customers. Several articles referring to the use and transmission of customers’ personal data were changed in favour of the bank's trading partners, making it easier for them to offer targeted products and services, write De Tijd and L’Echo .

The ability to freely transmit personal data to trading partners for direct marketing purposes is a cause for concern, according to the Privacy Commission for the protection of personal data in Belgium, which has opened a file on the matter and will demand explanation from the bank.

BNP Paribas Fortis denies that it has plans to provide data on the buying behaviour of its customers, stating that “only relevant information will be given to facilitate our commercial operations,” and "the confidentiality of personal information is strictly enforced at the bank."