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Comment by daotoad | Hacker News Reader

I got hit by this. If you did, you really want to close the bank accounts that were exposed and open new accounts.

My credit union was very easy to work with on this, but it has still been a pain in the butt.

I think we need disposable, single purpose bank account numbers like some services provide for CC transactions. I sure wish I had a fake proxy account ID between my real account and WA state.

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I am always mind-blown when a story like this hits the news: How has a country so technologically advanced like the USA, not yet devised a single federal system where simple citizens can get information about accounts and loans opened in their names.

In France (my country), a single inquiry can net you all the information about the accounts opened in your name (which in turn helps you track down any other problem).

And then, how have the banking sector over there been forced to take a more procedurally secure approach to banking ?

Originally the USA was more akin to the EU than to France. Some here would love to see it become like that once again with more autonomy for the individual states. Because of this we probably won't see a national portal any time soon.

I'm sorry I answered a similar comment before I saw yours. It's essentially the same comment's essence, hence the same answer.

Brazil has a similar system called Registrato, run by the central bank.

Honestly though, I’m not a fan of such all-encompassing federal systems. I live in the US but I’m in Brazil right now (yes, at the worst possible time for one to be here, but my mom passed away) and I’m appalled at how often I have to give heaps of personal information for the smallest inquiries or purchases. It feels extremely invasive and freedom-averse. I was also shocked at how easily some places could pull all sorts of information on me in just seconds.

Because this country has strong traditions of local autonomy and many areas resist federal encroachment.

I certainly understand this. And it's a tradition I admire. However, a case may be made that some things should be mandated at the federal level. Particularly when it can for example ruin people's lives without their knowledge or will(e.g. Credit scoring, double jeopardy, slavery, even death penalties IMO).

You can do this with savings accounts at most banks, and checking at many others.

Most credit unions and online banks let you do it online.

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