Singapore legislation
Clause 52
of Banking Bill
Clause 52
Secrecy of numbered accounts
(1)
The officials of any bank operating numbered accounts on behalf of its customers or any person who by reason of his capacity or office has by any means access to the records of the bank, registers, correspondence or any other material with regard to numbered accounts shall keep absolute secrecy thereof in the interests of the bank’s customers.
(2)
The officials of any bank and other persons mentioned in subsection (1) of this section shall not give, divulge or reveal any information whatsoever regarding the name or identity of the owner of a numbered account to any individual, corporation, bank, public administration, judicial or military authorities unless —
the owner of the numbered account or his personal representatives gives or give his or their permission so to do;
the owner is declared bankrupt;
a suit arises between the bank and the owner relating to a banking transaction; or
the owner is required so to do by order of a Judge of the High Court made for special cause for the purposes of any civil or criminal proceedings.
(3)
The Evidence (Bankers’ Books) Ordinance (Cap. 5) shall not apply to numbered accounts.
(4)
Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.