(a) Any financial institution disclosing financial records or information contained therein in violation of this Chapter shall be liable to the customer to whom the records relate in an amount equal to the sum of:
(1) One thousand dollars ($1,000);
(2) Any actual damages sustained by the customer as a result of the disclosure; and
(3) Such punitive damages as the court may allow, where the violation is found to have been willful or intentional.
(b) Any government authority that participates in or induces or solicits a violation of this Chapter shall be liable to the customer to whom the violation relates in the amount set out in subsection (a) above. It shall be a defense to an action under this subsection that the government authority acted in good faith in obtaining and relying upon process issued pursuant to G.S. 53B‑4. (1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1002, s. 1.)