Bank? maiden name?

In the U.S. (I don't know about elsewhere) a common security question to confirm your identity is to ask your mother's maiden name.

It's a silly statement, because the person could either have a different security question or could just make one up.

that happens in Australia too. I suppose people from non-english or non-western background, especially asian background would find it confusing.

Oh, I see. It's a matter of custom, isn't it?

And I am Japanese who usually use the date of birth for that purpose.

Thanks.

i understand that there is no such thing as maiden name in many asian countries. it is rather a western tradition where a married woman takes up her husband's family name and gives up her own family name which was her maiden name.

see: http://en.wikipedia.or

Still a silly original sentence. It wouldn't stop you getting a bank account!

They tend to ask for mother's maiden name but I never use that as a security word, I just use something else. How secure is something that a complete stranger can easily find out about you by requesting copies of a couple of birth certificates?