How Long Do Banks Keep Security Footage?

Bank security footage refers to video recordings captured by surveillance systems within and around financial institutions. These systems typically include high-resolution cameras strategically placed at entrances, teller windows, ATMs, and other high-traffic areas. The primary purpose of this footage is to enhance security, deter criminal activity, and provide crucial evidence for investigations, aiding in crime prevention and the identification of individuals involved in incidents.

Factors Determining Retention Periods

The length of time banks retain security footage is not universally standardized, but influenced by regulatory requirements, internal bank policies, the nature of the recorded event, and practical storage considerations. Federal regulations, such as the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), mandate financial institutions to maintain records for detecting and preventing money laundering and other financial crimes. While the BSA and its implementing regulations like 31 CFR Part 1020 do not explicitly specify a retention period for general video surveillance footage, they require records related to suspicious activities, such as Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), to be kept for five years.

Federal bodies like the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) expect banks to retain footage for a “reasonable” period, often interpreted as a minimum of 90 days to support criminal investigations. Industry standards and state-specific regulations may also suggest similar retention times, with some high-security environments or specific state laws requiring footage to be held for six months to a year, or even longer for particular events. Banks often establish internal policies that exceed these minimums based on their risk assessments and security needs.

The type of event captured significantly impacts retention duration. General surveillance footage of daily branch operations might be subject to shorter retention periods, often 30 to 90 days, after which it may be overwritten. Footage related to specific incidents such as robberies, fraud, or customer disputes is typically retained much longer. This extended retention ensures the footage remains available throughout the investigation, legal proceedings, or until the resolution of any claims.

Practical considerations like storage capacity and associated costs also play a role in retention decisions. High-resolution footage requires substantial storage space, and maintaining large archives can be expensive. Banks must balance their security needs with the operational expenses of data storage, sometimes opting for cloud-based solutions that offer scalability and cost-effectiveness for longer retention periods.

Accessing Bank Security Footage

Access to bank security footage is highly restricted due to privacy concerns and the sensitive nature of the information it contains. Individuals, including customers, generally cannot directly obtain footage from a bank for casual viewing. This strict protocol protects the privacy of all individuals captured in the recordings.

Law enforcement agencies, such as local police departments or the FBI, can formally request bank security footage as part of a criminal investigation. These requests typically necessitate a subpoena, court order, or warrant to compel the bank to release the recordings. In civil litigation cases, footage may be requested through discovery procedures and court orders, ensuring a legal framework governs its disclosure.

While direct customer access is not permitted, in specific circumstances related to a customer’s account or a documented incident, the bank might internally review the footage as part of their investigation. If a customer reports a disputed transaction or a theft on bank premises, the bank’s internal security team would examine the video. The bank may then provide footage to law enforcement on the customer’s behalf if a crime is suspected. Banks often redact portions of the footage, for example by blurring faces, to safeguard the privacy of unrelated individuals.