ARB's Dedication to Shielding Clients from Financial Scams Wins National Award
We're thrilled to announce that ARB has received the 2024 ABA Foundation Community Commitment Award for protecting older Americans. This important award, given by the American Bankers Association Foundation, recognizes our Financial Elder Abuse Prevention and Awareness Program and was be presented during ABA’s Annual Convention on Oct. 29 in New York City.
ARB Fraud Protection Efforts Wins National Award ¶
American Riviera Bank is committed to protecting our community, particularly our older clients, from money-related fraud. We're excited to share some big news about our efforts being noticed nationwide.
Recognition was awarded in seven categories: affordable housing, community and economic development, financial education, economic inclusion, protecting older Americans, supporting military families and volunteerism. Award winners were chosen by a field of nationally recognized experts in each field. The selection committee chose the winning banks based on the creativity and thoughtfulness of programs — traditional or innovative in nature and structure — that embody the ideals of corporate social responsibility and demonstrate success in making an impact.
Our award-winning program is a wide-ranging effort created with help from police and government groups. The program focuses on developing specific resources and financial education, training staff to assist victims of financial exploitation, and conducting extensive community outreach through social media and educational workshops. By equipping both employees and the community with tools to recognize and respond to elder abuse, the bank ensures the safety and security of its clientele at every stage of life.
Here's what makes our approach special:
- Resources for Seniors: We've made special tools to help with the money needs and risks of our older clients.
- Money Education: We believe learning is key. That's why we've created teaching materials just for older Americans.
- Employee Training: Our staff knows how to help victims of money exploitation, offering quick and effective support.
- Community Outreach: We're spreading our message beyond the bank through social media and educational workshops.
- Working Together: By teaming up with government agencies, we're better at stopping fraud and getting back lost money.
Real Results: Success Stories ¶
Our promise to protect older Americans isn't just words - we've seen real outcomes:
- In 2023, we stopped over $2 million in check fraud, saving our clients from big money losses.
- Our San Luis Obispo branch helped get back $20,000 in cash that was caught in the mail.
- We helped return over $350,000 to the IRS after finding a fake tax refund scheme.
Congratulations to Laurel Sykes ¶
We want to say a big congratulations to Laurel Sykes, our Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, who accepted this award for ARB. Laurel's leadership has been key in creating and running our senior protection program. She has been instrumental in the success of our programs, and she frequently provides hands on workshops in the areas we serve.
"We're very honored to get this award for our program to prevent and raise awareness about financial elder abuse. This shows how committed we are to protecting vulnerable people in our community and working to stop exploitation through education, teamwork, and targeted resources. We'll keep focusing on the safety and security of our clients, making sure they have the tools and resources they need to manage their money with confidence."
Laurel Sykes, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer for American Riviera Bank
Looking Forward ¶
This award encourages us to keep growing our efforts to protect older Americans from money scams.
We're committed to:
- Expanding our educational tools (more details coming soon!)
- Deepening our ties with police and government bodies
- Creating cutting-edge methods to spot and stop money exploitation
We ask you to be part of this crucial effort. Keep an eye out for upcoming learning sessions and info packs designed to help you shield yourself and those you care about from money scams.
Working together, we can build a more secure money environment for everyone in our community, no matter their age. We appreciate your faith and backing as we continue this essential work.
Please view this video for an overview of our efforts in protecting our clients against financial fraud.
To learn more about the ABA Foundation Community Commitment Awards, visit aba.com/awards. Protecting Older Americans
American Riviera Bancorp (OTCQX: ARBV) is a registered bank holding company headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. American Riviera Bank, the 100% owned subsidiary of American Riviera Bancorp, is a full-service community bank focused on serving the lending and deposit needs of businesses and consumers on the Central Coast of California. The state-chartered bank opened for business on July 18, 2006, with the support of local shareholders. Full-service branches are located in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, and Paso Robles. The Bank provides commercial business, commercial real estate, residential mortgage, construction, and Small Business Administration lending services as well as convenient online and mobile technology. For thirteen consecutive years, the Bank has been recognized for strong financial performance by the Findley Reports and has received the highest “Super Premier” rating from Findley every year since 2016. The Bank was rated “Outstanding” by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2023 for its performance under the Community Reinvestment Act.
