The $301 million Piedmont Advantage Credit Union notified its 46,000 members it has lost a laptop that contained member data.

“On Jan. 31, 2015, we discovered that there was a credit union owned laptop that could not be located,” wrote Judy Tharp, CEO of the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based cooperative in an undated latter to members. “While incidents like this are not uncommon, it is a first occurrence for us. Piedmont Advantage has engaged law enforcement and hired a computer forensic firm to investigate the matter. The laptop included password protected authentication designed to prevent unauthorized access, and at this time to the best of our knowledge, no data on the laptop has been accessed.”

Tharp went on to say that members' names, addresses, dates of birth, account numbers and social security numbers may have been on the computer. Piedmont Advantage will also offer one year of complimentary credit monitoring and “restoration” services for two years if it becomes clear member information has fallen into the hands of hackers.

A spokesperson for a firm hired to handle Piedmont Advantage's communications flowing from the breach declined to identify whether the laptop was lost or stolen, or whether the credit union suspected one or the other. The firm also declined to explain how the laptop went missing.

Instant Insights /

Credit Union Loses Laptop With Member Data

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