Customers of SouthState Bank whose Social Security numbers, names, and account details were exposed in a February 2024 data breach have until June 15 to file a claim for up to $3,500 each under the settlement in Beasley v. SouthState Bank, N.A. The deadline is weeks away, and anyone who received a notification letter from the bank should treat that letter as their roadmap for filing.
The breach, which SouthState confirmed through a formal notification filed with the California Department of Justice, occurred on February 7, 2024. The compromised data included some of the most dangerous categories of personal information: Social Security numbers paired with bank account details, a combination that gives bad actors enough to attempt identity theft, open fraudulent accounts, or drain existing ones.
What the California DOJ filing confirms
SouthState Bank, N.A., a southeastern U.S. bank, submitted its breach disclosure to California’s eCrime data breach reporting portal as required by state law. Any company that experiences a breach affecting California residents must file through this system.
The filing establishes three facts that are now part of the public record: the breach happened on February 7, 2024; it involved sensitive personal and financial data; and SouthState sent notification letters to affected individuals. The entry includes a consumer notification letter in PDF form that details what happened, what data was involved, and what steps customers can take. California’s Open Justice platform provides broader access to justice-related data, while the specific breach record is indexed on the eCrime reporting page.
The filing does not specify how many customers were affected. Breach notification requirements vary by state, and not all states publish victim counts in their public indexes.
Where the $3,500 figure and the June 15 deadline come from
The compensation figure and claim deadline originate from the Beasley v. SouthState Bank, N.A. class action settlement, not from the California DOJ portal. This is a standard distinction: the government filing documents that a breach occurred, while the settlement process, overseen by a court and run by a third-party claims administrator, handles payouts.
Settlements in cases involving Social Security numbers and bank account details tend to offer more substantial compensation than those involving only email addresses or passwords, because the risk of identity theft and financial fraud is significantly higher. The Beasley settlement terms, as described in the settlement notice sent to class members, allow affected customers to claim reimbursement for documented out-of-pocket losses, compensation for time spent dealing with the fallout, and access to credit monitoring services, with individual payouts capped at $3,500.
The exact total financial exposure for SouthState remains unclear without a confirmed count of affected customers. This article has not been able to independently verify the specific court, case number, or docket in which the Beasley settlement was filed. Readers who received a settlement notice should consult that document for the court name, case number, and claims administrator contact information.
SouthState’s public response
SouthState Bank has not released a detailed public statement about the settlement beyond the breach notification letters sent to affected customers and the disclosure filed with the California DOJ. The bank’s notification letter, available in PDF form through the California eCrime portal, describes the incident and outlines steps the bank is taking, including offering identity protection services to affected individuals. As of June 2026, no additional public comment from a SouthState spokesperson has been identified in connection with the Beasley litigation. Affected customers seeking a direct response from the bank can contact SouthState through the phone number or mailing address listed in their notification letter.
What affected customers have reported
Because the stolen data paired Social Security numbers with bank account details, the consequences described by plaintiffs in the Beasley case go well beyond nuisance. Court filings in the case reference customers who discovered unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts, fraudulent credit card applications opened in their names, and tax refund fraud tied to their stolen Social Security numbers. This article has not independently reviewed the underlying docket; these descriptions are drawn from the settlement notice provided to class members.
Some plaintiffs reported spending dozens of hours on the phone with banks, credit bureaus, and government agencies trying to reverse the damage. Others said they paid out of pocket for credit monitoring before the settlement made those services available at no cost. The pairing of Social Security numbers with account details is particularly harmful because it gives attackers enough information to impersonate someone across multiple financial systems simultaneously.
What to do before June 15
If you received a breach notification letter from SouthState Bank, that letter is your most reliable guide. It contains the specifics for your situation: what data was compromised, how to file a claim, what free services are available, and the deadline for action.
Here is what to prioritize:
1. Read your notification letter carefully. It should detail whether you are eligible for compensation, how much you can claim, and exactly how to file. If you have lost the letter, contact SouthState Bank directly or search for the Beasley v. SouthState Bank settlement claims administrator online. The administrator maintains a website where class members can verify eligibility and submit claims. This article has not been able to confirm the URL of the claims administrator’s site; your notification letter should contain it.
2. Document your losses. Claims for out-of-pocket reimbursement require supporting records. Gather bank statements showing fraudulent charges, receipts for credit monitoring services you purchased yourself, and any notes or logs showing time you spent resolving fraud-related problems.
3. Enroll in credit monitoring if offered. Most breach settlements include free credit monitoring for a set period. Even if you have not spotted suspicious activity yet, enrolling gives you an early warning system.
4. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze. A fraud alert, which you can set through any of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion), requires lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts. A credit freeze goes further, blocking new credit inquiries entirely until you lift it. Both are free under federal law.
5. Watch your accounts closely. Review your bank and credit card statements for unfamiliar transactions. Report anything suspicious to your financial institution right away.
Why the notification letter matters more than the DOJ filing for your claim
For anyone trying to figure out what they are owed and how to get it, the settlement notice is the document that matters most. The California DOJ filing confirms the breach is real and part of the public record. But the compensation offer, the eligibility rules, and the June 15 deadline are all governed by the Beasley v. SouthState Bank, N.A. settlement terms, which are laid out in the notice sent to affected customers, not in the state’s breach portal.
As of late May 2026, the June 15 deadline is the date to circle. If you believe you were affected but never received a letter, contacting SouthState Bank or searching for the settlement administrator’s website is worth the effort. Once the deadline passes, unclaimed funds will not be redistributed to affected customers.
David M. Keller is a finance writer based in Columbus, Ohio, covering personal finance and consumer-focused economic topics. He earned his degree in journalism from Ohio University and began his career reporting on local business and economic trends for a regional media outlet. Since then, he has contributed to a variety of online publications, focusing on clear, practical coverage of topics such as cost of living, debt, and everyday financial decision-making.
