What does “right to financial privacy” really mean? Well, not so long ago, the U.S. government could request access to our bank records, without our knowledge, at any time. Our bank records include highly sensitive information like our account numbers, social security numbers, home addresses, and spending patterns. Congress, in time, established privacy acts that would protect consumer information. In this course, we'll discuss the Right to Financial Privacy Act (RFPA). We'll look at its history, who it protects, how it impacts financial institutions, and the violations and penalties associated with the act.