Individuals who received notice of the First Chatham Bank data breach may be eligible to claim an estimated $100 cash payment from a class action settlement. The claim deadline is June 3, 2026.
If you received a letter from First Chatham Bank about a data breach that hit their systems in September 2024, you may be owed money. A class action settlement has been reached, and the bank has agreed to compensate people whose personal information was exposed in the cyberattack.
First Chatham Bank denies any wrongdoing but chose to settle rather than face continued litigation. The result: cash payments available to affected individuals – and the process takes just a few minutes online.
Who can file a claim?
Individuals must meet all of the following criteria:
- They reside in the United States or its territories.
- They received a notice from First Chatham Bank stating that the September 2024 data breach affected their personal information.
- Their names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, or payment card information were potentially compromised.
Were you affected by the First Chatham Bank data breach? You may be eligible for a cash payment.
Check My EligibilityHow much can class members receive?
Class members who submit a valid claim will receive a pro rata share of the settlement fund after deducting approved attorneys’ fees, costs, service awards, and administrative expenses:
- Cash payment: Estimated $100 per claimant. The actual amount may be higher or lower depending on the total number of valid claims filed. No documentation is required beyond standard identifying information.
- Service awards: Each of the four class representatives will receive $2,000 for their role in the litigation.
The $475,000 settlement fund is divided equally among all valid claimants after fees and costs are deducted.
How to claim a data breach payment
Class members can submit the online claim form using the unique ID and PIN from their settlement notice. The claim deadline is June 3, 2026.
First Chatham Data Incident Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958
What proof or documentation is necessary to submit a claim?
- All claimants must provide the unique ID and PIN from the settlement notice they received.
- Standard identifying information is required on the claim form, including name and contact details.
- No receipts or additional documentation are necessary – this is a flat pro rata payment distributed equally among all valid claimants.
Payout options
- Digital payment (for online claim forms)
- Paper check (for mailed claim forms)
Settlement fund breakdown
The settlement fund covers:
When is the First Chatham Bank settlement payout date?
The settlement administrator will issue payments after the court grants final approval of the settlement and resolves any appeals. The final approval hearing is scheduled for June 18, 2026, at the Eugene H. Gadsden Courthouse in Savannah, Georgia.
No specific payout date has been announced – this is standard at this stage of the process. Payments are typically distributed within 60 days after final approval, assuming no appeals are filed.
Why did this class action settlement happen?
The class action lawsuit alleged that First Chatham Bank experienced a targeted cyberattack in September 2024 that compromised the personal information of individuals in their systems. The plaintiffs claimed the bank failed to implement adequate security measures to protect sensitive customer data.
First Chatham Bank denies any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the uncertainty and expense of continued litigation.
Is the First Chatham Bank data breach settlement legitimate?
Yes – this is a fully court-supervised settlement. Here’s what confirms it:
- Case number: SPCV25-00142-MI, filed in Superior Court for Chatham County, Georgia
- Administrator: Simpluris, an established settlement administration firm
- Official site: fcbdatasettlement.com
- Notice: Sent directly by the settlement administrator to affected individuals
The settlement is pending final court approval at the June 18, 2026 hearing. Claims must be filed before June 3, 2026 – no payments will be issued before final approval.
How much will I actually receive from the First Chatham Bank settlement?
It depends on one thing: how many people file. The remaining fund after fees and costs is split equally among all valid claimants.
- Estimated $100 per person – this is the projected payout based on anticipated claim volume.
- Could be higher – if fewer people file, each claimant’s share increases.
- Could be lower – if more people file than expected, shares decrease proportionally.
- No documentation required – just your unique ID and PIN from the notice letter.
The $100 estimate is realistic. Filing takes under five minutes online and costs nothing.
What actually happened in the First Chatham Bank data breach?
In September 2024, First Chatham Bank – a community bank headquartered in Savannah, Georgia – was hit by a targeted cyberattack that compromised sensitive customer data stored in their systems.
What was exposed: Names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and payment card information.
What the lawsuit claims: That First Chatham Bank failed to implement adequate cybersecurity protections, leaving customer data vulnerable to unauthorized access.
What First Chatham Bank says: They deny any wrongdoing – but agreed to a $475,000 settlement rather than face a trial.
Why do companies settle data breach lawsuits even when they deny wrongdoing?
Settlement does not mean admission of guilt. Companies settle for practical reasons:
- Litigation is expensive – legal fees alone can exceed the settlement amount
- Trials are unpredictable – a verdict could result in a far larger payout
- Settling ends years of ongoing litigation and negative press
- For plaintiffs, it guarantees a payout rather than risking nothing at trial
Courts still review every class action settlement to confirm it’s fair and reasonable – that’s what the June 18, 2026 hearing is for. Denying wrongdoing while settling is standard practice and has no effect on your right to file a claim.