Banks are not allowed to send their customers personalized offers based on their payment data. The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens AP) is therefore calling on all banks to look closely at their policies on direct marketing.
In recent weeks, many people have called and emailed the AP. They are concerned about the plans of a bank that wants to use their payment data for advertising. This unrest has prompted the AP to send a letter to the Dutch Banking Association (NVB). This letter contains the ground rules for banks if they want to use payment data for other purposes than originally intended when the customer opened an account.
Katja Mur, board member of the AP: 'Payment data provide pretty much a complete picture of someone's life: what do you spend your money on, what clubs are you a member of, who do you hang out with, what patterns are visible? That's why the AP thinks it's important to make the banking sector aware of the privacy rules.'
Recently, a bank changed its privacy statement and informed its customers about it. This stated, among other things, that the bank plans to use payment data for direct marketing offers. The AP has indications that more banks are processing customer payment data for direct marketing purposes. Therefore, the AP has chosen to warn all banks through their trade association NVB.
View the AP's letter to the NVB here
