$7.25M Patelco Credit Union Data Breach Settlement, Did Your Personal Information Get Stolen?

A ransomware attack hit Patelco Credit Union in June 2024, exposing sensitive personal data belonging to more than one million accounts. Patelco agreed to a $7.25 million settlement to resolve the resulting class action lawsuit. A judge granted tentative preliminary approval on June 9, 2025. If you received a breach notification from Patelco about the June 2024 incident, you may be eligible for a cash payment.

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$7,250,000
Claim Deadline	TBD — check PatelcoSettlement.com
Who Qualifies	Patelco members notified of the June 2024 data breach
Payout Per Person	TBD — pro rata from net fund
Proof Required	Yes (for higher reimbursement tier) / No (for flat cash option)
Settlement Status	Preliminarily Approved
Administrator	TBD — managed via PatelcoSettlement.com
Official Website	PatelcoSettlement.com

Where things stand:

• A judge gave tentative preliminary approval to the $7.25 million settlement on June 9, 2025. Once final approval is granted, the administrator will send notice to all class members and open the claim filing window.
• Lead plaintiffs’ attorney Scott Cole confirmed that settlement documents will be distributed to affected class members after the court formally approves the deal.
• Payments will not go out until after the court grants final approval, all appeals resolve, and the administrator finishes processing every submitted claim.

What Happened in the Patelco Ransomware Attack

Patelco detected unauthorized access to its systems on June 29, 2024. An investigation later revealed that hackers — subsequently identified as the RansomHub ransomware group — had access to internal systems beginning May 23, 2024. The breach shut down core banking operations for Patelco members for nearly two weeks.

Hackers gained access to account holders’ names, dates of birth, home addresses, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and email addresses. Not every piece of data was compromised for every individual — the type of information exposed varied by member.

The plaintiffs sued Patelco for negligence and violation of the California Consumer Privacy Act. The settlement does not require Patelco to admit or deny any wrongdoing. Separately, California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation fined Patelco $100,000 and ordered the credit union to improve its cybersecurity systems and practices.

Who Can File a Claim

• You may qualify if Patelco Credit Union sent you a written notice about the June 2024 data security incident
• You may qualify if your personal information — including name, Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license number, email address, or home address — was stored in the affected systems
• You may qualify whether you are a current or former Patelco member, as long as your data was part of the breach
• You may qualify even if you did not experience any identity theft or fraud — receiving an official breach notification from Patelco is the primary eligibility trigger
• You will not qualify if you did not receive a notification from Patelco about the June 2024 incident, or if you validly opt out of the settlement

If you misplaced your notice or are unsure whether you were affected, visit PatelcoSettlement.com or call the settlement help line listed on that site.

Related article: Joshua Spriestersbach Honolulu $975K Settlement, Wrongfully Locked in a Psychiatric Hospital for Two Years, Hawaii Man Settles for $975,000

How Much Could You Receive

The $7.25 million fund will be distributed among all valid claimants after attorneys’ fees, administrative costs, and any service awards to named plaintiffs are deducted. Based on how comparable credit union data breach settlements have structured their payouts, affected members typically have two options.

Members who can document out-of-pocket losses — such as fraudulent charges, credit monitoring fees, costs to replace identification documents, or bank fees — can claim reimbursement for those actual expenses. Members who cannot document specific losses, or who prefer a simpler process, can claim a flat pro rata cash payment from the remaining fund without submitting proof.

The specific dollar caps and flat payment amounts for this settlement are TBD — check PatelcoSettlement.com for confirmed figures once the administrator publishes them. Your actual payment will also depend on the total number of valid claims filed: the more people who file, the smaller each individual share.

How to File a Claim

Step 1 — Visit PatelcoSettlement.com and locate the claim filing section

Step 2 — Enter your personal details and the unique Class Member ID from your breach notice (if you received one)

Step 3 — Choose your benefit option: documented loss reimbursement (requires supporting paperwork) or flat pro rata cash payment (no proof needed)

Step 4 — If claiming documented losses, upload supporting evidence such as bank statements, receipts, credit card statements, or correspondence showing breach-related expenses

Step 5 — Review your completed form carefully and submit before the published deadline

Step 6 — Save your confirmation number or take a screenshot as proof of filing

You can also request a paper claim form by contacting the settlement administrator directly through the website. For questions, use the contact information listed at PatelcoSettlement.com.

Estimated time to complete: 5–15 minutes depending on whether you submit documentation.

Key Dates

Milestone	Date
Ransomware Attack Detected	June 29, 2024
Lawsuit Filed	July 2, 2024
Settlement Agreement Reached	Early June 2025
Preliminary Approval (Tentative)	June 9, 2025
Claims Period Opens	TBD
Claim Filing Deadline	TBD — check PatelcoSettlement.com
Opt-Out Deadline	TBD
Objection Deadline	TBD
Final Approval Hearing	TBD
Expected Payment Date	TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim?

 No. You file directly at PatelcoSettlement.com at no cost. The process is designed for members to complete on their own. Hiring an attorney is not required and will not increase your payout — class counsel’s fees come out of the settlement fund, not your pocket.

Is this settlement legitimate? 

Yes. The case Cordell, et al. v. Patelco Credit Union is pending in Alameda County Superior Court, California. A judge granted tentative preliminary approval on June 9, 2025. The official website PatelcoSettlement.com is the court-authorized claim portal. Verify any communication you receive through that site before submitting personal information.

When will I receive my payment? 

Payments go out only after the court grants final approval and all appeals are resolved. The administrator then processes every valid claim before distributing funds. For most data breach settlements of this size, that process takes six months to a year after the claim deadline closes. Check PatelcoSettlement.com for updated timelines.

What if I missed the claim deadline?

 If you do not file by the published deadline, you will not receive any payment from the settlement fund. You will still be bound by the settlement’s release of claims, meaning you give up your right to sue Patelco separately over the same breach.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes?

 Settlement payments for data breaches may or may not be taxable depending on what the payment compensates — reimbursement for documented losses is generally treated differently from a general cash award. Consult a tax professional to understand how this applies to your situation.

What data was actually stolen in the breach?

 Patelco confirmed that hackers accessed names, dates of birth, home addresses, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and email addresses. Not every data element was exposed for every individual. Your breach notification letter will tell you specifically what information was compromised.

I never noticed any fraud — can I still file?

 Yes. You do not need to have experienced actual identity theft or financial loss to qualify. Receiving an official breach notification from Patelco is enough to make you eligible. Many settlements offer a flat cash option for members without documented losses for exactly this reason.

What should I do right now to protect myself? 

File a claim before the deadline, enroll in any free credit monitoring offered through the settlement, and review your credit reports for unauthorized activity. You can also place a free credit freeze with all three major bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to prevent anyone from opening new accounts in your name.

If you were affected by a similar breach at another financial institution, you may also want to review the SouthState Bank $1.5 million data breach settlement with a June 15, 2026 claim deadline, or the Lakeview Loan Servicing $26 million data breach settlement with a June 22, 2026 deadline.

Sources & References

• PatelcoSettlement.com — Official settlement website, Cordell, et al. v. Patelco Credit Union

Last Updated: March 27, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.