A 2024 data breach at Fidelity Investments lasted less than 72 hours. But the legal fallout is ongoing.
Fidelity has agreed to a $2.5 million class-action settlement over the incident, which exposed the financial account numbers and routing numbers of approximately 155,000 individuals or joint account holders between August 17 and 19, 2024. A third party that gained unauthorized access to the company's network during that window potentially made off with names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.
Must Read
Fidelity isn't admitting to any wrongdoing — which is standard in settlements like this — but affected customers now have a path to compensation.
Who's eligible and what the settlement pays
The settlement class includes more than 77,000 customers who received a breach notification from Fidelity about the August 2024 incident. Court documents also indicate that roughly 86,000 additional customers whose account and routing numbers were exposed may also be eligible, even if they weren't directly notified.
If you're unsure whether you qualify, the settlement administrator can be reached at info@FidelityDataSettlement.com or (833) 386-6470.
How People Are Protecting Their Identity Online with VPNs Today
The top-tier payout — up to $5,000 — goes to class members who can document actual financial losses or expenses resulting from the breach. This includes unreimbursed fraud or identity theft charges, professional fees and credit-related costs. To claim the full amount, you'll need to submit third-party records, such as bank statements, professional invoices, receipts or bills.
All eligible class members who submit a valid claim may receive a pro-rata cash payment estimated at about $100, with no proof required. California residents can tack on an additional $50 under the state's Consumer Privacy Act. All class members are also entitled to two years of identity theft protection and credit monitoring, backed by $1 million in financial fraud insurance.
When is the deadline to file a claim?
Claims must be submitted by July 27, 2026, through the settlement website at FidelityDataSettlement.com. The court's final approval hearing is set for July 9.
Anyone who wants to opt out to preserve the right to pursue independent legal action has until June 26 to do so. Doing so means forfeiting your share of the settlement regardless of payout amount.
For affected customers, filing a claim before the July deadline is the simpler and more certain path to some form of restitution.
