pankkisalaisuuden

Pankkisalaisuus, or banking secrecy, refers to the legal and ethical obligation of financial institutions to protect the confidentiality of their customers' financial information. This principle is a cornerstone of the banking industry, designed to foster trust and encourage individuals and businesses to deposit their funds without fear of unauthorized disclosure. In most jurisdictions, banking secrecy is enshrined in law, with specific provisions outlining what constitutes confidential information and the circumstances under which it can be disclosed.

Typically, information covered by banking secrecy includes account balances, transaction details, loan agreements, investment holdings, and any other data related to a customer's financial relationship with the bank. Banks are prohibited from revealing this information to third parties, including government agencies, other individuals, or even other departments within the same banking group, without the explicit consent of the customer or a valid legal order.

However, banking secrecy is not absolute. There are legally defined exceptions that allow for the disclosure of customer information under specific circumstances. These often include investigations into criminal activities such as money laundering, terrorist financing, and tax evasion. In such cases, law enforcement agencies or regulatory bodies can obtain court orders or statutory notices compelling banks to release relevant information. Additionally, some jurisdictions have agreements for automatic exchange of financial account information to combat offshore tax evasion. The balance between protecting customer privacy and cooperating with legitimate investigations is a key aspect of banking secrecy legislation worldwide.