UPI - -Minn. Claims Bank Sold Consumer Data ST. PAUL, Minn., June 9 (UPI) Minnesota has become the first state to sue a bank for allegedly selling customers' private data _ including account balances, credit histories and Social Security numbers _ to a telemarketing company. State Attorney General Mike Hatch today filed the suit against U.S. Bancorp in U.S. District Court in St. Paul. The suit claims the bank holding corporation's subsidiary, U.S. Bank, defrauded its consumers by selling the data for $4 million plus commissions to telemarketer Member Works Inc. beginning in November 1996. The suit also claims the bank violated the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act by failing to inform customers that it would sell private account information. Member Works sells memberships to discount dental and health-care clubs. The suit seeks a court order barring similar distribution of U.S. Bank data and unspecified compensation for account holders. U.S. Bancorp had no immediate comment. Hatch accuses the bank of turning over a variety of confidential information, letting Member Works illegally withdraw from customer accounts, and even writing deceptive telemarketing scripts. According to Hatch, one bank-written script helped telemarketers answer people who asked if U.S. Bank had given out their credit card or checking account numbers. The telemarketer was allegedly supposed to answer, "No, I personally do not have your account number." In addition to financial details, the data allegedly included each customer's address, phone number, marital and homeownership status, occupation, birth date and Social Security number. The attorney general is also calling on Congress to enact legislation protecting consumers' rights to financial privacy. Copyright 1999 by United Press International All rights reserved.

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