NJ Lenders Corp Data Breach Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Castenie et al. v. NJ Lenders Corp, No. PAS-L-001210-26

Quick answer: if NJ Lenders Corp sent you a letter about the August 2025 cyberattack — yes, you’re almost certainly included. There’s a $100,000 settlement fund, up to $2,500 per person with documentation, and a flat $40 if you skip the paperwork. The deadline to file is October 1, 2026.

NJ Lenders Corp Data Breach Settlement — Key Facts

Field	Details
Settlement Amount	$100,000 cap on cash payments (pro-rata if claims exceed the cap)
Claim Deadline	October 1, 2026
Who Qualifies	Anyone who received direct notice their Private Information was impacted in the August 2025 Data Incident (~30,000 people)
Estimated Payout	Up to $2,500 with proof, or a flat $40 with none
Proof Required	Yes for the $2,500 option. No for the $40 option
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved. Final approval hearing set for October 16, 2026
Court & Case Number	Superior Court of New Jersey, Passaic County — No. PAS-L-001210-26
Law Alleged	Negligence, negligence per se, unjust enrichment, breach of implied contract, breach of fiduciary duty
Administrator	Simpluris, Inc.
Official Claim Site	njlendersdatasettlement.com
Last Updated	August 10, 2026

Who Is NJ Lenders Corp and Why Are They Being Sued for a Data Breach?

NJ Lenders Corp is a privately held residential mortgage banker based in Little Falls Township, New Jersey. Because it originates home loans, it collects and stores exactly the kind of information identity thieves want most — full names paired with Social Security numbers. That combination is what got exposed. A mortgage lender sitting on that much sensitive borrower data, without the cyberattack it eventually suffered, is precisely the setup this lawsuit says should never have happened.

What Did NJ Lenders Corp Do to Borrowers Between August and October 2025?

On or about August 18, 2025, someone broke into NJ Lenders’ computer systems in what the company calls a targeted cyberattack. An investigation followed, and NJ Lenders determined that names and Social Security numbers of roughly 30,000 people had potentially been accessed. The company didn’t finish notifying people until October 10, 2025 — nearly two months after the breach.

The lawsuit that followed, filed as Castenie et al. v. NJ Lenders Corp, doesn’t point to one single privacy statute. Instead, the complaint argues NJ Lenders was negligent, breached an implied contract to protect customer data, and was unjustly enriched by not spending what it should have on security in the first place. NJ Lenders denies doing anything wrong. Multiple related cases were consolidated, and rather than fight it out for years, both sides landed on a settlement.

If you’re checking the LA Financial Federal Credit Union data breach settlement for comparison, the shape here is nearly identical — a regional lender, a targeted attack, and a claims-made fund with a documented-loss tier and a no-proof tier.

That’s the whole story in a paragraph. And it’s also the reason the fund tops out where it does — 30,000 people is a small class next to something like AT&T’s breach, so the payout math looks very different.

Who Qualifies for the NJ Lenders Corp Data Breach Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• Anyone who received a direct notice letter from NJ Lenders about the Data Incident
• Borrowers or applicants whose names and Social Security numbers were on file with NJ Lenders as of August 2025
• People still unsure whether they got notice can contact the administrator directly to check

Who does not qualify:

• Directors and officers of NJ Lenders Corp
• Government entities
• The assigned judge, that judge’s immediate family, and court staff

There’s no independent way to self-certify into this class the way there is with a “did you buy the product” settlement. Eligibility here runs entirely through NJ Lenders’ own breach-notification list — either you got the letter, or the company’s records say you weren’t affected.

NJ Lenders Corp Data Breach — Are You Still Covered Outside New Jersey?

The lawsuit was filed in New Jersey state court, but nothing about the settlement class is limited to New Jersey residents. Coverage follows the breach notification, not your mailing address — so if NJ Lenders sent you a letter, you’re a class member no matter which state you live in now.

Not sure if you qualify for the NJ Lenders data breach settlement? A free consultation with a data privacy attorney can help before the October 1 deadline.

How Much Can NJ Lenders Corp Settlement Class Members Get? Up to $2,500 Per Person

You get to pick one of two cash options — you can’t claim both.

NJ Lenders Payout With Proof — Up to $2,500

If the breach cost you money — fraud charges, a frozen-credit fee, a replacement driver’s license, postage to fight with your bank — you can claim reimbursement up to $2,500. You’ll need receipts or similar records covering losses between August 18, 2025, and October 1, 2026. A personal statement alone won’t cut it, though it can support other documentation you submit.

NJ Lenders Payout Without Proof — Up to $40

Prefer to skip the paperwork? Check one box, and you’re in line for a flat $40. No receipts, no explanation required.

What Pro-Rata Means for Your NJ Lenders Check

Both payment tracks draw from the same $100,000 pool. If everyone eligible files and the total claimed exceeds that cap, every check gets scaled down proportionally — so a $40 claim might land closer to $30. Every Settlement Class Member also gets a code for one year of CyEx Financial Shield Complete credit monitoring, backed by $1 million in identity theft insurance, whether or not they file for cash.

Payments over $600 may appear on a 1099. Check with a tax professional.

Here’s something worth knowing before you decide it’s not worth your time: Class Counsel is asking the court to approve up to $280,000 in attorneys’ fees, paid separately by NJ Lenders on top of the $100,000 cash fund — so the lawyers aren’t eating into your payout.

How to File Your NJ Lenders Corp Data Breach Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to the official claim site at njlendersdatasettlement.com/form/claim
2. Enter your name, address, email, and the Login ID and PIN from your mailed notice
3. Choose Cash Payment A (documented losses, up to $2,500) or Cash Payment B (flat $40)
4. If claiming Payment A, upload proof — receipts, bank statements, or similar records tied to your losses
5. Pick how you want to get paid: PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, a virtual prepaid card, or a physical check
6. Submit the form and save your confirmation

Takes about 5 minutes. You have until October 1, 2026 to file — that’s your one hard deadline here, so don’t let it slide.

Should NJ Lenders Corp Class Members Opt Out or Object Before September 16, 2026?

What Opting Out of the NJ Lenders Settlement Actually Means

Opting out means no cash, no credit monitoring — but you keep your right to sue NJ Lenders on your own. Most people are better off staying in and filing a claim. The opt-out deadline is September 16, 2026, and your request has to be mailed to the Settlement Administrator with your signature and a clear statement that you want out.

How to Object to the NJ Lenders Settlement

Staying in the class but unhappy with the deal? You can object instead. Objections have to be filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court, Passaic County, at 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505, and copies sent to Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel by the same September 16, 2026 deadline. The settlement agreement lists ten specific requirements your objection has to hit, so this isn’t a quick email.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before September 16, 2026 if you’re considering either option.

Here’s a detail that doesn’t show up in the FAQ page: buried in the settlement agreement itself is a clause letting NJ Lenders walk away from the whole deal if more than 350 people opt out. It’s a reminder that “final” approval isn’t guaranteed until the opt-out count comes in low enough for both sides to still want the deal.

NJ Lenders Corp Data Breach Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Settlement Proposed	April 24, 2026
Notification Mailing	July 8, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	September 16, 2026
Objection Deadline	September 16, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	October 1, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	October 16, 2026, 11:00 a.m. ET
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — payments go out within 90 days of the Effective Date, which depends on final approval and any appeals

NJ Lenders Corp Data Breach — Frequently Asked Questions, No. PAS-L-001210-26

1. Do I need a lawyer to file a NJ Lenders Corp data breach settlement claim?

 No. The online claim form at njlendersdatasettlement.com takes about five minutes and doesn’t require legal help to submit correctly.

2. Is the NJ Lenders Corp settlement legitimate?

 Yes. It’s overseen by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Passaic County, under Case No. PAS-L-001210-26, and administered by Simpluris, a licensed class action settlement administrator.

3. When will NJ Lenders settlement payments be sent?

 Payments go out within 90 days after the Effective Date, which follows the October 16, 2026 final approval hearing and the resolution of any appeals.

4. What if I missed the NJ Lenders claim deadline?

 Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by October 1, 2026. Late claims aren’t guaranteed consideration, so file as soon as you can.

5. Will my NJ Lenders settlement payment go on a 1099? 

Payments over $600 may be reported. Talk to a tax professional about how a documented-loss payout could affect your filing.

6. How do I know if NJ Lenders actually has my information on file?

 If you received a postcard or letter with a Login ID and PIN, NJ Lenders’ own records list you as a Settlement Class Member. If you’re unsure, call the administrator at (833) 421-7307.

7. What happens if more people file than the $100,000 settlement can cover?

 Every valid claim gets reduced on a pro-rata basis, so a $2,500 or $40 claim could pay out less depending on total demand.

8. Can NJ Lenders back out of this settlement?

 Yes, in one narrow case. If more than 350 people opt out, NJ Lenders has the right to void the agreement entirely under the settlement’s termination clause.

Sources Used in This NJ Lenders Corp Data Breach Article

Settlement Agreement — Castenie et al. v. NJ Lenders Corp, filed 2026: https://cw.simpluris.com/docs/public/downloads/NCC1/SETTLEMENT_AGREEMENT Long Form Notice — Castenie et al. v. NJ Lenders Corp: https://cw.simpluris.com/docs/public/downloads/NCC1/LONG_FORM_NOTICE Claim Form — Castenie et al. v. NJ Lenders Corp: https://cw.simpluris.com/docs/public/downloads/NCC1/CLAIM_FORM Frequently Asked Questions — NJ Lenders Data Incident Settlement: https://njlendersdatasettlement.com/faq/ Important Dates — NJ Lenders Data Incident Settlement: https://njlendersdatasettlement.com/dates/

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official Settlement Agreement and the NJ Lenders Data Incident Settlement FAQ and Dates pages on August 10, 2026. Last Updated: August 10, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.