The pet owner may not want to accept such a risk. If you decide to remove a band, it is best to have someone with experience do it because it is easy to injure the bird's leg. Your veterinarian can do this as part of a checkup. If a band is removed, the pieces should be kept for reference in case the bird is ever sold. There are two types of bird bands, open and closed.
Closed bands are seamless and made from steel or aluminum.
They are stamped with the year the bird was hatched. Closed bands must be put on the leg of the bird when it is a chick by slipping its tiny foot through the band. The bird grows and the band cannot slip back off. The only way to remove a closed band is to cut it off, which damages the band. Be aware that it is possible for a breeder to make or custom order closed bands with any information they want.