I know this is a "no-no" and I am not a Privacy or Identity Theft expert, but is there some section of the regulation I can quote to tell them not to do this anymore? I of course will mention "identity theft issues" but I want to quote regs to justify my point.

Thanks

There are no regs that prohibit the inclusion of SSNs on personal checks. It is, however, a practice no bank should encourage and should definately not require. Check the links below and ask your staff how they will feel "on the stand" explaining why they knowingly allowed Poor Widow Johnson to give her SSN to every merchant and home repairman in the city.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html#confidential

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheftmini.htm

I didn't think so, thank you very much.

I think the question relates to writing the SS# as an ID element when cashing checks. It's an equally poor idea, and may actually be illegal in some states (it is in Massachusetts, unless it happens to also be the individual's license number -- a practice that is being phased out as licenses are renewed).

John:

Do you know how I can get this list of states where this practice is illegal?

Thanks

I don't have a list, Big D. I will offer my admittedly biased opinion, however.

Recording an individual's social security number anywhere that it's not required by law is a bad idea. The number is a miserable identification tool, at best, and there are almost always better and more adequate forms of identification for the purpose of check cashing.

If it helps at all, Michigan is one of the states where that would be illegal.

Just tell them, "It's 2007, catch-up already!!! No SS numbers on checks...because we say so!!"