Is it legal for a teller to ask someone for his/her SSN to pull up or find an account if he/she doesn't know the actual account number? It really bothers me as there is no privacy and everyone can hear my number.
It's a poor practice. Every teller inquiry system usually allows tellers to search for accounts by account number, taxpayer identification number (SSN), and name. It's a better practice to search using the individual's name, and confirm by using a street address or, as many do, the last four digits only of a social security number. If your bank insists on continuing to ask for an SSN or any other non-public personal information such as a date of birth, you can protect your privacy by asking to write it down and have the teller hand you back the paper when your account is identified so that you can assure that the paper is torn into pieces before it's disposed.
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It's a poor practice. Every teller inquiry system usually allows tellers to search for accounts by account number, taxpayer identification number (SSN), and name. It's a better practice to search using the individual's name, and confirm by using a street address or, as many do, the last four digits only of a social security number. If your bank insists on continuing to ask for an SSN or any other non-public personal information such as a date of birth, you can protect your privacy by asking to write it down and have the teller hand you back the paper when your account is identified so that you can assure that the paper is torn into pieces before it's disposed.
