With reports that the FirstBank branch in neighbouring United States Virgin Islands (USVI), has been cancelling debit cards of account holders, following an external security breach, Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) understands that some accounts in the Virgin Islands (BVI) have been affected. Photo: VINO

While it was unclear if VI account holders were affected, through inquiries to the bank’s Facebook page, Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) has been reliably informed that the situation may be much larger than is being revealed. Photo: Facebook

USVI marketing and communications manager, Alana Alexander had shared with our correspondant, The VI Consortium on May 11, 2019, that the breach was not of the bank’s online systems, rather, at a number of third-party merchants throughout the USVI territory and beyond, where FirstBank account holders made transactions.

Situation in VI

She told the Consortium that so far about 50 FirstBank account holders have been identified as affected, although the number could rise and that emails were sent to all those affected.

While it was unclear at the time if VI account holders were affected, through inquiries to the bank’s Facebook page, Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) has been reliably informed that the situation may be much larger than is being revealed. 

A customer service representative behind the company’s official FirstBank Virgin Islands Facebook page, on inquiry, said the situation further affected Puerto Rico and some accounts here in in the VI.

“If your account was one of the affected you should have received an email from the bank. If you verify the account and see something suspicious you should communicate immediately,” they said.

The exact amount of accounts affected in the VI is not known at this time, however, the customer service representative further said, “If you received [an] email saying that your account was one of the affected, call us at +18666952511” or provide a phone number for a representative to make contact.

Cards Cancelled

Among the accounts receiving the emails was a VI Consortium FirstBank account. The email reads: “Due to a possible external security incident to FirstBank, your debit card number ending in [redacted] may have been compromised. Given this situation, and to reduce the risk of improper access to your account, we will be cancelling your card effective on Monday, May 13, 2019.”

Efforts by Virgin Islands News Online to contact the FirstBank's corporate office through a number listed on their website proved futile, however, this news site will update the story as more information becomes available.