GBank's Fraud Prevention Bingo: Protecting Las Vegas Seniors

Community banks are committed to helping protect seniors from financial scammers, regardless of whether they are customers or not. 

Many community banks are so committed that they have created their own programs to this end. Others would like to help in this area but are not sure where to start.

Fortunately, there are organizations providing direct assistance in this area, as GBank, a $1.39 billion-asset Las Vegas community bank, knows well.

One of these organizations is Senior Crimestoppers, a national program designed to prevent elderly abuse, neglect, theft, financial exploitation, fraud and unethical behavior of any type that affects vulnerable older adults. The organization delivers its services to senior housing facilities to improve their residents’ overall quality of life.

Senior Crimestoppers is operated by the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation (SHCPF), headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. The SHCPF serves residents, staff, management, family and visitors in nursing homes, HUD communities, veterans homes, assisted living communities and independent living communities.

Senior fraud–fighting tools for ICBA members

For ICBA member banks, there is a convenient connection to Senior Crimestoppers: ICBA bank-sponsored programs for qualified facilities can be funded by the banking industry through ICBA CRA Solutions programs. The ICBA subsidiary has been providing CRA solutions for the nation’s community banks since 2000. It offers CRA education and training, CRA support services, the CRA Collaborative Peer Group, and CRA qualified loans, investments and services. 

Since their inception, the programs have helped banks across the country earn meaningful CRA credit through elder financial abuse prevention programs, all with flexible funding options to make it simple for banks to get involved.

GBank brings Fraud Prevention Bingo to Vegas 

Last year, GBank began partnering with ICBA CRA Solutions and Senior Crimestoppers to deliver fraud prevention education to local seniors in and around Las Vegas, a vulnerable population often susceptible to fraud and financial exploitation. 

Through its Fraud Prevention Bingo game, the community bank shares practical tools to help participants recognize scams, protect personal information and navigate potential fraud with confidence.

GBank reaches seniors primarily through its Fraud Prevention Bingo game. To date, it has served 10 senior community centers, reaching more than 270 seniors and caregivers. 

“The residents seem to love it,” says Scot Levine, executive vice president and chief risk officer for GBank.

At the bingo sessions, each participant receives a card with a five-by-five grid of random numbers paired with “red flag” warnings such as “Beware! Ponzi schemes” and “Don’t click on that link.” 

Some squares also include questions and tips to help players navigate risky situations. Some of the tips include checking bank statements regularly, ignoring calls from unknown numbers, using strong passwords and reaching out to trusted friends or family members when an offer seems too good to be true.

To sweeten the pot, some of the community bank’s marketing and management people bring prizes and food, usually pizza and cookies. There’s plenty of assistance for players, too. 

“A few employees take turns reading from the cue cards, and others assist participants when they need help, such as explaining the fraud concept or helping them complete their cards,” Levine says. “We also always do a raffle at the end.”

GBank publicizes the program to bank employee volunteers and eligible participants on several fronts. “Internally, we send out a sign-up sheet, but for the participants, we allow the housing establishments to solicit participants, and they do a good job of recruiting,” says Levine.

A fun and rewarding way to prevent elder fraud

GBank’s involvement with ICBA CRA Solutions began out of a desire to help a vulnerable and isolated part of its community. 

“Thinking about our community engagement and outreach, we formed a partnership-like relationship with ICBA,” says Levine. “ICBA presented the opportunity to help low- to moderate-income seniors, and we jumped at the opportunity. It has been a rewarding experience ever since.”

Feedback from participants has been gratifying. “We have only heard great things from participants and the establishments themselves,” says Levine. “We have also been invited back a few times.” 

He offers some recommendations to other ICBA banks that want to start in Fraud Prevention Bingo programs at their own banks. 

“Have fun with it,” he says. “Also, make sure you get multiple employees involved. Go off script and explain some of the concepts. Let the residents engage you in conversation.” 

His final recommendation: “Bring pizza and prizes,” he says. “It helps with turnout.”

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