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There is no statutory or case law addressing this issue.

Records of the State Banking Department of Alabama, the Banking Board of Alabama, the Bureau of Savings and Loan, and the Bureau of Credit Unions are public writings within the meaning of the Alabama Public Records Law unless an express statutory provision makes particular bank records confidential. The following statutes provide for confidentiality of particular bank records:

1. Ala. Code § 5-3A-11 (1996): All reports of an examination of a bank by the State Superintendent of Banks, all records reflecting the action of any bank taken pursuant to such an examination, and those portions of minutes of meetings of the Banking Board that relate to a specific bank or banks.

2. Ala. Code §§ 5-3A-3 (Supp. 2010), 5-5A-43 (1996): A bank customer's financial records.

3. Ala. Code § 5-2A-80 (1996): Records, reports and other data submitted by a licensee to the Supervisor of the Bureau of Loans, and the reporting of all investigations made under the Small Loan Act.

4. Ala. Code § 5-3A-3(a) (Supp. 2010): The condition or affairs of any bank ascertained by examination of such bank and any report or information regarding depositors or debtors of such bank, except as authorized or required by law.

5. Ala. Code § 5-5A-44 (Supp. 2010): Records regarding applications for acquisition of banks by a majority of voting shares.

6. Ala. Code § 5-13B-105(a) (1996): Records regarding examination and investigation of foreign banks, unless the Superintendent of Banks deems that publication will serve the public advantage.

7. Ala. Code § 5-16-36(b) (1996): Confidential comments by an examiner or auditor in reports to the State Savings and Loan Commissioner regarding savings and loan associations.

The Alabama Code contains numerous provisions for the confidentiality of business information, financial data, trade secrets, and other proprietary information that is gathered or required to be filed with state agencies, including such information as is related to or included in records involving the following matters:

1. Agricultural cooperative marketing associations. Ala. Code §§ 2-10-28, -29 (1999).

2. Banking. Ala. Code §§ 5-2A-80, 5-3A-11 (1996) and 5-3A-3(a), 5-5A-44(b), 5-13B-105(a) (Supp. 2010).

3. Department of Energy matters. Ala. Code §§ 41-6A-4(8), -7, -11 (2000).

4. Environmental pollution control. Ala. Code §§ 22-22-9(c), 22-28-20(a), 22-30-18, 22-30-19(d) (1997).

5. Health maintenance organizations. Ala. Code §§ 27-21A-24, -25 (1998).

6. Horse and greyhound racing. Ala. Code §§ 11-65-10(10), -15, -18 (1994).

7. Livestock markets. Ala. Code § 2-15-62(e) (Supp. 2005).

8. Meat and poultry. Ala. Code § 2-17-24(a)(2) (1999).

9. Milk-processing establishments. Ala. Code § 2-13-92 (1999).

10. Revenue rulings. Ala. Code § 40-2A-5(d) (2003).

11. Seed. Ala. Code § 2-26-10(d) (1999).

12. Surface coal mining. Ala. Code §§ 9-16-83(b)(16), -84(a)(14), -87(b), -100 (2001).

13. Underground tank and wellhead. Ala. Code § 22-36-8 (1997).

Alabama courts also protect the confidentiality of proprietary information and trade secrets in court records in appropriate cases. See Holland v. Eads, 614 So. 2d 1012, 1016 (Ala. 1993); Duck Head Apparel Co. v. Hoots, 659 So. 2d 897, 916-17 (Ala. 1995).

The following otherwise-private financial and business information is subject to public disclosure:

1. The data on financial disclosure statements that public officials in the state are required to file with the Alabama Ethics Commission. Ala. Code § 36-25-4(a)(5) (Supp. 2010).

2. Documents filed by a taxpayer in support of a protest of property valuation. 215 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 39, 41 (June 14, 1989).

We know of no statutory provision or reported case law regarding public access to this category of records.