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Empower Staff and Fight Financial Exploitation

AARP’s BankSafe training combines industry knowledge and experience with a state-of-the-art, online learning experience. AARP worked with more than 2,000 financial industry professionals to develop the training platform’s content and interactive scenarios. The platform is one of few designed specifically for frontline staff, supervisors, financial advisors and compliance officers.

Users learn how to identify potential financial exploitation and take the right actions to stop it. In fact, researchers from Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology found that employees trained with AARP BankSafe were able to save an average of 16 times more money per employee from financial exploitation than employees trained with other methods. To learn more, please read the full report or report summary.

Woman typing at a computer

   

Features of the BankSafe training:

Self-paced activities fit into the busy schedules of staff

Videos and activities build empathy and understanding of how to interact with older consumers

Interactive scenarios, games and quizzes enable staff to put their knowledge and skills to the test

AARP’s research connects the fight against exploitation to the impact on the financial industry

   

Five modules contain short, bite-sized exercises that teach staff how to spot suspected exploitation and steps to take to stop the money before it leaves the account

State-specific reporting requirements and resources, as well as tip sheets, are at staff’s fingertips

Managers and supervisors can monitor staff’s progress

Trained staff receive a certificate showcasing their new skills

   


All banks, credit unions and investment firms within the United States can have their staff trained through the BankSafe platform at no cost.

 

About the AARP BankSafe Trained Seal

As part of the BankSafe program, banks, credit unions and investment firms can apply to have AARP verify that at least 80% of their frontline staff successfully passed the BankSafe training and confirm that they have a financial-exploitation escalation reporting policy. Qualifying banks, credit unions, and investment firms in good standing can apply to receive a seal from AARP, good for one year, recognizing their commitment to fighting exploitation.

Inaugural BankSafe Challenge sets 2022 record. In recognition of World Elder Abuse Day (June 15), AARP’s BankSafe Initiative hosted its first-ever BankSafe Challenge during the month of June. The challenge called upon financial organizations to take urgent action in financial exploitation prevention by training at least 80% of their frontline staff using BankSafe’s award-winning platform.

The result? A record-setting month! Compared to 2021, 38% more individuals were trained this June than last June. Compared to May 2022, well over double the number of individuals completed the training in June 2022, demonstrating a resounding commitment to act as the critical last line of defense in safeguarding the assets of older adults using BankSafe’s research-backed training, resources and intervention strategies.

  

Program Benefits for Financial Organizations

 

Display the BankSafe Trained Seal on a highly-visible page of their website (e.g. homepage, news, honors)

 

Use the BankSafe Trained Seal in social media communications

 

Be recognized in an AARP news release

 

Have their organization's name showcased on AARP's website


Please see our AARP BankSafe Trained Seal Terms and Conditions for more information.

 

1st Mississippi Federal Credit Union

Abacus Federal Savings Bank

Abacus Wealth Factors LLC

ACPE Federal Credit Union

Affinity Credit Union

All In Federal Credit Union

Allegacy Federal Credit Union

American Commerce Bank, N.A.

America's Credit Union

AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union

Anderson Griggs Investments

Approach Financial Inc

Aspire Community Federal Credit Union

Availa Bank

BAC Community Bank

Bank of Eastern Oregon

Bank of Springfield

BASF Federal Credit Union

Bay Port State Bank

Bay Vanguard Bank

Bellwether Community Credit Union

Better Banks

Bragg Mutual Federal Credit Union

Cape Cod Five

CASE Credit Union

Chase Bank

Chelsea State Bank

Chief Financial Federal Credit Union

Cincinnati Federal

Citizens Bank

Commercial National Bank of Brady

Community West Credit Union

Conscious Impact Financial Planning

COPOCO Community Credit Union

Copper Basin FCU

Cornerstone Bank

Dedham Savings

Department of Commerce FCU

Downshift Financial

East Cambridge Savings Bank

Eastern Michigan Bank

Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley

Embers Credit Union

Enrichment Federal Credit Union

Farmers and Merchants National Bank

Fidelity Federal Savings and Loan

Firelands Federal Credit Union

First Bank Chicago

First Bank of Wyoming, a Division of Glacier Bank

First Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Grand Meadow

First National Bank and Trust Phillipsburg Kansas

First State Bank a Division of Glacier Bank

Freedom Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Financial Planning Solutions LLC

Friend Bank

Georgia Banking Company

Glacier Hills Credit Union

Granite Credit Union

Great Erie Federal Credit Union

Greenville Federal Credit Union

Harris County Federal Credit Union

Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union

Hawaiian Financial Federal Credit Union

Heartland State Bank

Hilltop Bank

Holy Rosary Credit Union

Homefield Credit Union

Horicon Bank

Howland Capital Management

HTG Investment Advisors Inc

IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union

Illinois State Credit Union

Intandem Credit Union

KEB Hana Bank USA

Kennebunk Savings Bank

KJH Financial Services

Kopka Financial LLC

KS StateBank

Main Street Bank

Mallard Financial Partners Inc

Marquette Community Federal CU

Marquette Savings Bank

Members First Credit Union

MembersOwn Credit Union

Meridian Trust Federal Credit Union

Midwest Bank

Montana Credit Union

Natco Credit Union

NBT Bank

Nebraska Energy Federal Credit Union

Nevada Bank & Trust

New Cumberland Federal Credit Union

North Star Community Credit Union

Northeast Bank

Northstar Financial Planning LLC

Onomea Federal Credit Union

Ozarks Federal Savings and Loan Association

Parkside Credit Union

Peoples Credit Union

People’s Bank of Commerce

Pinal County Federal Credit Union

Piscataqua Savings Bank

Rayne Building & Loan Association

Retirement Council Inc

Rewey Asset Management

River Valley Credit Union

Romney Federal Credit Union

RTD Financial

Scenic Community Credit Union

Security Bank - Illinois

Share Advantage Credit Union

Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union

Spectra Federal Credit Union

Squam Lakes Financial Advisors LLC

State Street Bank

Sturdy Savings Bank

Synergy Wealthcare Solutions LLC

The Peoples Bank - Marion

The Village Bank

Tongass Federal Credit Union

Tower Federal Credit Union

Triangle Federal Credit Union

Tri-County Bank

United Bay Community Credit Union

United Midwest Savings Bank

United Savings Credit Union

Upward Credit Union

Vantage West Credit Union

Waymaker Financial Planning

Western New York Federal Credit Union

Wexford Community Credit Union

XML Financial Group

Zing Credit Union

Zuraw Financial Advisors

Learn More

     

The BankSafe training platform combines world-class content from AARP with a state-of-the-art online experience.

Designed specifically for the frontline staff, call center representatives, financial advisors, supervisors and risk management officers who are at the forefront of the fight against financial exploitation, BankSafe provides the best, most current and engaging training available to protect older consumers and empower the financial industry — namely your frontline staff.

If your question is not answered on this page and you need further assistance, please call the BankSafe Support Center at (800) 216-4910.

     

AARP developed the BankSafe training with input from over 2,000 bank, credit union, regulatory, legal, government, non-profit and law enforcement professionals. We’ve focused the training on empowering frontline staff with the skills and confidence to take action to prevent money from ever leaving the account. The result is a highly engaging online learning experience with interactive games, videos, real-life scenarios and state-specific resources. The BankSafe training:

  • Builds understanding, empathy and motivation in the learner
  • Goes beyond mere education with a series of exercises enabling staff to build their knowledge and skills through interactive scenarios, games and quizzes
  • Includes content unique to the requirements, laws and resources in every state
  • Connects the fight against financial exploitation to the impact to the financial industry
  • Complements and expands on other trainings the employee may have taken
  • Fits into the busy schedules of staff by enabling them to complete the one-hour training at their own pace

The BankSafe platform includes five modules, each with short, bite-sized education and training exercises, that employees can complete at their own pace or in one sitting. The five modules comprising the roughly one-hour training are organized to help employees:

  1. Learn about financial exploitation and its impact on both older Americans and your financial institution.
  2. Identify red flags for financial exploitation.
  3. Develop skills to ask the right questions and take the right actions when they suspect financial exploitation.
  4. Understand state-specific reporting requirements and available community resources.
  5. Practice and put newfound skills to the test.

You can get a glimpse of the modules and activities in action in the video below.

Yes. The BankSafe training platform includes administrative reporting tools that will allow you, and those you provide with administrator credentials, to see employee progress and performance. The reporting tools include printable, customized reports that you can use for internal purposes or for use in coordination with regulators. Registration options also allow for institutions to set up access to branch-specific reports.

AARP will present a personalized certificate to all employees that complete the BankSafe training course so that their peers and clients understand their commitment to stopping the exploitation of older adults.

All financial industry organizations participating in the BankSafe training are eligible to be considered to receive an “AARP BankSafe Trained” recognition seal. To qualify, institutions in good standing must have at least 80% of their frontline employees pass the BankSafe training and confirm that they have a policy in place to report financial exploitation.

Institutions who apply for and meet the requirements will be listed on AARP’s website and can request recognition materials for use by their organization.

All banks and credit unions and investment firms within the United States can have their staff trained through the BankSafe training platform at no cost. 

Yes, there are three versions of the training available: one for banks, one for credit unions and one for investment firms. The core curriculum, features and look and feel are consistent between each. The examples provided, interactive scenarios, terminology and industry expert interviews are all specific to each type of institution. 

The BankSafe training platform is a custom-developed learning management system that you and your staff can access through any up-to-date web browser. You can see a full overview of the technical requirements and recommendations for the training here.

Most financial organizations find that simply linking their staff to our platform meets their needs. We are currently exploring options for certain customized access methods. If you find the platform won’t meet your needs, please contact the BankSafe Support Center at (800) 216-4910.

Yes. The below video previews many features of the AARP BankSafe training, which is free. When you register your organization, you’ll be able to preview the entire training before you sign-up your employees. Please note that when provided the option between ‘Detailed Account’ and ‘Basic Account’, we recommend choosing ‘Detailed Account’.