Banking and Bingo

Kodia Tharpe  Johnson joined the CB&T Team in 2020 as a Customer Service Representative. One of her first encounters was a customer that had been a victim of Financial Abuse. It broke her heart to see the situation the customer was in and she reached out about developing a program specifically for the Senior Citizens in our community. Our team worked together to develop the program, Banking and Bingo. The first session was held in 2022 at the Henry County Senior Citizen’s Center. During the session, Kodia spoke about her experience with Elder Financial Abuse and ways for the audience to protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.  The session ended with a few games of Bingo and fellowship!

Kodia’s passion for her customers doesn’t go unnoticed. One interaction with a customer has led to us helping 100s of others in our community be more knowledgeable of scams and protect them from potential scams.

We are excited to continue this program in 2023 by visiting more Senior Citizen Center’s in our coverage area and developing additional outlets to educate the community about Elder Financial Abuse.

More information about Elder Financial Abuse can be found at https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/protect-your-money/elderly-financial-abuse

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Tips for Seniors

What should you do to protect yourself?

• Plan ahead to protect your assets and to ensure your wishes are followed.  Talk to someone at your financial institution, an attorney, or financial advisor about the best options for you.
• Shred receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.
• Carefully choose a trustworthy person to act as your agent in all estate-planning matters.
• Lock up your checkbook, account statements and other sensitive information when others will be in your home.
• Order copies of your credit report once a year to ensure accuracy.
• Never give personal information, including Social Security Number, account number or other financial information to anyone over the phone unless you initiated the call and the other party is trusted.
• Never pay a fee or taxes to collect sweepstakes or lottery “winnings.”
• Never rush into a financial decision.  Ask for details in writing and get a second opinion.
• Consult with a financial advisor or attorney before signing any document you don’t understand.
• Get to know your banker and build a relationship with the people who handle your finances. They can look out for any suspicious activity related to your account.
• Check references and credentials before hiring anyone. Don’t allow workers to have access to information about your finances.
• Pay with checks and credit cards instead of cash to keep a paper trail.
• Feel free to say “no.” After all, it’s your money.
• You have the right not to be threatened or intimidated. If you think someone close to you is trying to take control of your finances, call your local Adult Protective Services or tell someone at your bank.
• Trust your instincts. Exploiters and abusers often are very skilled. They can be charming and forceful in their effort to convince you to give up control of your finances. Don’t be fooled—if something doesn’t feel right, it may not be right. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

What should you do if you are a victim of financial abuse?

• Talk to a trusted family member who has your best interests at heart, or to your clergy.
• Talk to your attorney, doctor or an officer at your bank.
• Contact Adult Protective Services in your state or your local police for help.