A report from the US Congress revealed hackers employed by the Chinese government succeeded in stealing confidential data over a period of three years from the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the country's banking regulator.

Some media reports also allege the FDIC covered-up the break-in and that the agency's chief information officer, Russ Pittman, was responsible.

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The Science, Space and Technology Committee of the House of Representatives made the revelation in a report that also criticized the FDIC as "technologically inept." It said the hacks occurred in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

The FDIC has refused to comment on the hackings. This committee in the past had also criticized the FDIC for minimizing previous data breaches.

The report alleges the Chinese government hacked into 12 computers and 10 backroom servers at the FDIC. Chinese hackers succeeded in penetrating personal computers of the FDIC's top officials: the FDIC chairman, his chief of staff and the general counsel. The report said FDIC officials tried to cover-up the hack when questioned about it.

The FDIC supervises some 9,000 banks and savings and loan institutions throughout the U.S. not reviewed by the Federal Reserve system. It provides deposit insurance to depositors in US banks.

FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg will face the Congressional committee on July to explain the three-year-long hacking spree. Despite the FDIC's silence about the hacking, the agency admitted it "did not accurately portray the extent of risk" to Congress.

Zhu Haiquan, spokesman at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said he didn't have detailed information on the report's findings.

"China firmly opposes and is committed to combating all forms of cybercrimes. China and the United States have already established a high-level joint dialogue mechanism on fighting cybercrime and related issues. This is the best channel for both sides to address this challenge. Making unfounded accusations is counterproductive."

TagsFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Chinese hackers, House of representatives, Martin Gruenberg