Redditors Dish Out Legal Advice To A Woman Who Was Being Pursued Using The Personal Information She Gave To A Man Who Opened A Bank Account For Her

In a world where boundaries between professional and personal often blur, one woman found herself navigating the uncomfortable attention of a bank employee. Despite his clear interest, she steadfastly guarded her space, refusing to let his advances disrupt her sense of security.

Months later, that boundary was tested again when the same man reached out through social media, crossing a line she never invited him to approach. Her instinct was to protect herself, denying his request and grappling with the unsettling reality of unwanted attention lurking behind everyday transactions.

I [F30] opened a bank account at a local credit union. The guy who opened my bank account is using my information to pursue me on social media. Can I do anything about this? [MI]

According to Professor of Ethics and Business Law, Dr. Laura Evans, ‘Financial institutions operate under strict mandates regarding customer confidentiality. Any instance where customer PII (Personally Identifiable Information) is leveraged for non-business purposes, especially for social pursuit, represents a severe violation of fiduciary duty and regulatory compliance, such as GLBA standards in the US.’

The behavior displayed by the bank employee demonstrates a clear lack of professional boundaries, rooted in misinterpreting routine customer service interactions as personal interest. The initial denial of the friend request and subsequent avoidance by the customer were explicit signals that should have terminated any further contact. The employee’s persistence, especially after leveraging information obtained through a manager—a clear case of internal collusion—escalates the situation from awkwardness to potential stalking and data misuse.

The customer’s actions, including documenting interactions and seeking recourse, are appropriate responses to the invasion of privacy. The involvement of the manager is particularly concerning as it suggests a systemic failure in oversight regarding information access. Moving forward, the customer should formally file a complaint with the bank’s corporate compliance or legal department, detailing the timeline and evidence. Simultaneously, reporting the data breach to relevant financial regulatory bodies might be necessary to ensure accountability beyond internal disciplinary action.

THE COMMENTS SECTION WENT WILD – REDDIT HAD *A LOT* TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE.

The individual experienced a significant breach of privacy and professional boundaries when a bank employee used their personal and financial information to pursue them socially over an extended period. The core conflict lies between the customer’s expectation of professional confidentiality at a financial institution and the employee’s misuse of his position for personal reasons, which was further enabled by a former acquaintance acting as an internal source.

Given the clear misuse of sensitive data, the violation of professional conduct, and the sustained harassment following clear signals of disinterest, is the customer’s pursuit of formal action against the financial institution and the involved employee justified, or should the matter be considered a contained, albeit inappropriate, personal overreach that is best resolved through reporting and blocking?