So how long do I need to keep bank and credit card statements?

[ISurvivedNMU]

My guess is your keeping them only for audit purposes...... And I only keep that stuff 3 years. I keep my reciepts, and other tax info that cannot be reproduced. But bank statements, CC statements, and investments can all be reproduced since your institution needs to keep them much longer.

JMHO

 

[BJS]

7-10 yrs is what I keep mine around for.

It's been pointed out that the financial institutions can reproduce a copy of whatever for you if you end up needing it but there is usually a cost associated with it. Typically $15-30/item requested so it could get pretty expensive later on if you don't keep some of that stuff around.