Fears over bank access to student information

PARENTS have expressed concern over schools passing on information about students to banks or other financial institutions.

The Congress of Catholic Secondary School Parent Associations (CSPA) complained that personal information is being given to banks when they seek confirmation of details from students opening accounts.

CSPA spokeswoman Barbara Johnston said the Data Protection Act precludes schools from enabling information about students being passed to a third party in any way without parental consent.

“Personal information given by parents to schools is only supposed to be used for their educational functions, which certainly do not include facilitating the opening of a bank account,” Ms Johnston said.

“We also think it is questionable that banks are canvassing young customers in schools,” she said.

The Joint Managerial Body, which represents secondary school boards, said visits by banks to schools are usually educational as they encourage good saving habits.

JMB general secretary George O’Callaghan said: “Our general advice to schools is that any information they hold about students should not be released without the permission of parents.

An AIB spokesperson said they seek a parental signature for second-level students opening accounts, and that consent also covers the release of information by the school.