Bonneville Bank has filed suit against the former First Security Bank, now Wells Fargo Bank, for allegedly failing to promptly stop access to customer accounts after a criminal ring in Asia got hold of bank identification numbers and began using them to buy merchandise.
The civil suit was filed in 3rd District Court on Tuesday.
Bonneville alleges that around July 2000, the criminals got the bank numbers, made fraudulent debit cards and began to buy things. When Bonneville learned of this, it asked First Security/Wells Fargo to block any authorization for the fraudulent debit cards to prevent their use, but the larger bank failed to take any action for two or three days, the suit alleges.
Merchandise totalling $158,000 in value was bought with the fraudulent cards, according to the lawsuit.
Bonneville alleges breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and negligence in its suit. Bonneville Bank is seeking $158,000, attorneys' fees, pre- and post-judgment interest and other costs, the suit said.
"We have not seen a complaint and we are not able to comment," Rita Garry Esposito, spokeswoman for Wells Fargo, said.