Just like any other financial institution, we are required to gather this information by U.S. federal law. The PATRIOT Act requires all financial institutions to verify and record Social Security Numbers to verify identity. This helps identify and prevent potential terrorists and money launderers from opening bank accounts. It also serves as a security measure to prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened in your name. 

Additionally, your SSN is protected. Firstcard uses AES strong encryption to encrypt your SSN.