Is a bank allowed to make a photocopy of my driver's license, passport and ATM card during cashing a check as a part of verification?
Question Details: I was cashing a personal check and as a part of verification they make a photocopy of my drivers license, my foreign passport and my PNC Bank visa card. They told me that they will store it for 90 days. I don't have account with them so I'm not their customer. They didn't as for my permission, and they make photocopy in 100% size of original documents. Also, is it true that it is illegal to make photocopy of a foreign passport (my Polish passport)? I have found that they can by photographed only.
I believe it may be illegal to make a photocopy of such international documents unless you are an agency handling travel documents. This is not for the bank to do. If they have a strict policy regarding cashing checks for non customers, there are other ways to do it or simply refuse. What you need to do is file a complaint with the bank's regulator and hope that this move will be sufficient to help you get the better result you need and the destruction of those documents.
