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Protect financial data by sharing as little as possible: don’t enter passwords, one-time codes, full account or card numbers, government identifiers, or unredacted financial documents into an AI tool. Before using one, check how it handles prompts and files, how long it retains them, who can access them, and whether the tool is approved for your task. Treat anything you submit as a disclosure to the service and to any integrations or actions you have enabled.
Is it safe to put a bank statement into an AI tool?
Usually, don’t upload an unredacted statement. If you want help understanding a budget or spending pattern, first try a fictional example or a general description. If real figures are essential, share only the relevant totals or a small, redacted excerpt.
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A prompt or attachment can disclose personal and financial information to the service. Its handling depends on the provider, account or workspace type, settings, and any connected tools. The Federal Trade Commission advises businesses to collect only the data they need, keep it safe, and dispose of it securely; the same data-minimization principle is a useful starting point for individuals. FTC privacy and security guidance
Remove identifiers and unnecessary detail
- Replace names, addresses, account and card numbers, tax or government identifiers, and transaction references with generic labels such as “Person A” or “Account 1.”
- Remove login details, security answers, passwords, and one-time codes entirely. Never submit them to get help with a financial task.
- Include only the rows, dates, or totals needed to answer the question. Round or aggregate amounts when exact values are unnecessary.
Redaction reduces exposure but does not guarantee anonymity. A combination of transaction descriptions, dates, amounts, or other details may still identify someone.
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- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Check files before uploading
Review every page and also check comments, hidden spreadsheet sheets, filenames, metadata, and transaction descriptions. A black shape placed over text may leave the underlying text selectable or extractable. Make a flattened redacted copy, then open it and verify that the removed information cannot be selected, searched, or revealed before uploading. This is a practical precaution, not a guarantee that a file can never be recovered.
Can an AI tool see my bank account information?
An AI tool cannot access your bank account merely because you ask it a question. But if you paste account information, upload a statement, connect a financial service, or enable an integration that can retrieve data, information may be sent to the AI provider or another service involved in the action. Check what the tool and its enabled connections receive before approving access.
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- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
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Do not rely on an AI assistant’s explanation of its own privacy settings. Consult the provider’s current documentation and the settings for your specific account or workspace. Check whether prompts and files may be used to improve models, whether chat history or memory is enabled, how deletion and retention work, who can access the workspace, and whether connectors or third-party actions are active.
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What privacy settings do—and do not—change
Settings can affect some uses of information without erasing every record or changing every retention rule. For example, OpenAI says turning off model improvement means new ChatGPT conversations are not used to improve models, but saved chats can remain in chat history. OpenAI also says Temporary Chats are not used to improve models, do not appear in history or create memories, and may be retained for up to 30 days for safety. Check the ChatGPT data controls documentation for current details.
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- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
OpenAI says content from its Business, Enterprise, Edu, Healthcare workspace, and API offerings is not used to train models by default. That statement does not settle questions about a particular organization’s retention settings, access controls, contracts, or policies. It also does not describe every AI provider. Review the applicable OpenAI business data privacy information and your own workspace terms rather than assuming that another service uses the same rules.
How to reduce exposure before using an AI tool
- Start with a generic example. Ask for an explanation of a budgeting concept without including a real statement or personal account details.
- Decide what the tool actually needs. If real data is necessary, use the smallest relevant excerpt, totals, or rounded figures. Remove identifiers and unrelated transactions.
- Inspect the service and account. Check current documentation and settings for model improvement, history, memory, deletion, retention, sharing, connectors, third-party actions, and whether you are using a personal or managed workspace.
- Review the prompt and file. Remove sensitive details, inspect hidden content and metadata, and verify any redacted copy before sending it.
- Use an approved route for work data. Follow your employer’s policy and ask the appropriate security, privacy, compliance, or legal team if you are unsure whether a data class or task is permitted.
- Secure the accounts involved. Use unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication (MFA) on the email and financial accounts connected to the task. Where supported, prefer phishing-resistant MFA, such as a FIDO/WebAuthn security key. A physical key works only with compatible accounts.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identifies MFA, sound password practices, and timely software updates as relevant security measures. Its guidance also warns that inadequate data security can itself be an unfair practice in some contexts. CFPB Circular 2022-04 and CFPB Circular 2022-02
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- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Can you paste customer financial information into an AI chatbot at work?
Only if your organization has approved the specific tool and use for that data. A tool being available to employees—or having a business subscription—does not by itself establish that customer information may be entered or that the use meets legal or contractual obligations. Ask your organization’s security, privacy, compliance, or legal team which data classes and use cases are allowed.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →For US securities firms, FINRA says member-firm obligations continue to apply when firms use generative AI or similar technologies. Its guidance highlights privacy, integrity, reliability, accuracy, and governance, among other considerations. Firms should evaluate what an application collects, where the data goes, which vendors or subprocessors can access it, whether it is retained or reused, and how access and oversight are managed. FINRA Regulatory Notice 24-09 and FINRA’s generative AI guidance
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- FIDO2 & Passkey Ready: Business-ready and FIDO2 L1 certified. This key is supported by major management suites and is ideal for both individual and enterprise deployment. Works seamlessly with Gmail, Facebook, GitHub, Dropbox, Coinbase, and more.
- Universal Connectivity (USB-A ): Features a built-in USB-A connector—simply unfold the key and plug it into your compatible PC or laptop for seamless authentication on the go.
- Dedicated Manager App: Use the Thetis Manager App for the initial hardware PIN setup. Setting the PIN on the device first ensures a smooth registration process. Once the PIN is configured, you can begin registering the key across your favorite FIDO2-compatible online services.
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- Check FIDO2 compatibility before purchase - Known limitations: ID Austria is not supported (requires FIDO2 Level 2). Windows Hello login only works with Windows Enterprise editions that support Entra ID, and NFC is NOT supported.
FINRA’s rules and the securities laws are US examples specific to member firms and the securities industry, not a universal compliance checklist. Other organizations and jurisdictions may have different obligations. Use current local guidance for a specific regulatory question.
Compare controls, not just product labels
When evaluating an AI service or workspace for sensitive work, review the actual documentation and contract for:
- Whether prompts and files are used for model improvement, and what the default or opt-out is.
- Retention and deletion practices, including any safety or legal exceptions.
- Access by provider staff, workspace administrators, connectors, and third-party actions.
- Workspace identity, user permissions, and administrative controls.
- Documented encryption and authentication details.
- Contract and data-processing terms, and how they fit the use case and applicable obligations.
A provider’s stated policy is one part of the assessment; the organization’s configuration, access controls, retention policy, contract, and intended use also matter.
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What to do if you already shared sensitive information
Respond according to what you disclosed and the specific service involved. Use the provider’s privacy or deletion controls and follow its incident instructions. If you exposed credentials or information that could enable account access, contact the relevant financial institution, change affected passwords, and revoke exposed tokens where applicable. Deleting a chat may not address every retention or access issue, so consult the provider’s current documentation and your organization’s incident process if the disclosure involved work data.
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