On December 2, 2024, Mission Bancorp, the parent company of Mission Bank, experienced a significant data breach. An unauthorized party gained access to certain systems within Mission Bank's network, bypassing the company's robust information security measures.
The breach was detected by Mission Bank’s IT professionals, who immediately secured the environment by isolating the affected systems. The company then engaged third-party forensic specialists to investigate the incident and notified law enforcement.
The investigation revealed that the unauthorized access exposed sensitive consumer information. On December 18, 2024, Mission Bank completed a comprehensive review of the potentially impacted data.
The exposed information varied by individual but may have included:
Fortunately, Mission Bank confirmed that its core banking system, account balances, transactions, and mobile and online banking credentials were not affected. These systems are housed on secure platforms separate from the environment that was breached.
The breach was disclosed to the California Attorney General's office on January 9, 2025.
Mission Bancorp acted swiftly to address the data breach. Upon detecting the incident, the company isolated the impacted systems to secure its network environment. It also engaged third-party forensic experts to conduct a thorough investigation and assess the extent of the breach. Law enforcement was promptly notified to ensure proper handling of the situation.
To support affected individuals, Mission Bancorp is offering complimentary Single Bureau Credit Monitoring, Credit Reports, and Credit Score services through TransUnion for 12 months. These services include alerts when changes occur to an individual’s credit file. Additionally, proactive fraud assistance is available to help individuals address any concerns or incidents of fraud.
The company is also reviewing its technical safeguards and exploring enhancements to prevent similar incidents in the future.
If you believe your information may have been compromised in the Mission Bank data breach, it is essential to take immediate action to protect yourself. Here’s what you should do:
By taking these steps, you can mitigate the potential risks associated with this data breach.
A breach notice means your personal details could be circulating far beyond the organization involved. One practical step is continuous monitoring: services such as Identity Defender (included with an ExpressVPN subscription) can automatically check dark-web markets, flag new credit-file activity, and request removal of your information from data-broker sites.
This kind of “early-warning system” can’t undo a breach, but it can help you spot misuse quickly and limit further exposure. ExpressVPN is offering 61% off, risk-free for 30 days, with ID Theft Insurance included and no extra cost for those who sign up for one or two years.