CUNA president/CEO Jim Nussle announced the launch ofStopTheDataBreaches.com, which consumers can use to call onCongress to hold retailers accountable for data breaches.

The websiteurges Congress to take action by passing data security legislation.Consumers are able to write their legislators through the websitewith the option to use the form letter provided or send apersonalized message.

“Credit unions are held to strict data standards under theGramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and CUNA is urging Congress to holdmerchants to the same standards, which will force retailers toprotect consumer data and protect consumers from identity theft andfinancial fraud,” said a CUNA press release Thursday. “The IdentityTheft Resource Center estimates over 500 data security breacheshave occurred in 2014, exposing over 75 million data records.”

Financial institutions are generally responsible for coveringfraudulent charges on consumers' credit cards in the aftermath of adata breach at a retailer like Target or PF Chang's.

According to CUNA, credit union members are often under theimpression that their financial institution suffered a data breach when they receive a new card. Due to currentregulations, credit unions are not allowed to disclose the reasonfor reissuing a card that was stolen in a breach.

“Credit unions block card usage and issue cards with new numbersquickly after breaches to prevent fraud,” Nussle said. “When fraudoccurs, credit unions work with their members to remove thefraudulent charges and help members keep their hard-earned money.When the merchants cause a data breach, they just pass along allthe costs of their poor security to financial institutions.”

Credit unions reissued approximately 4.6 million credit anddebit cards after the Target data breach, which carried a price tagof $30.6 million.

“Expenses like this are making it harder for credit unionsaround the country to offer credit cards with low interest ratesand free debit cards with checking accounts,” Nussle said.