Washington, D.C. (June 15, 2026) — In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, ICBA CRA Solutions and its Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation (SHCPF) are raising awareness of elder financial exploitation and sharing resources to help protect older adults from fraud and abuse.
“Financial exploitation costs America’s seniors billions annually, jeopardizing their financial security and independence,” said ICBA CRA Solutions Chairman Robert Fisher, president and CEO of Tioga State Bank in Spencer, N.Y. “Community bankers, as trusted financial stewards, can serve as a valuable resource, providing guidance, monitoring accounts for suspicious activity, and helping seniors and caregivers protect hard-earned savings.”
Recognized globally since 2006, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day serves as a call to action against elder abuse in all its forms, including financial exploitation. Through ongoing community outreach and education, ICBA CRA Solutions and SHCPF are helping community banks deliver resources to safeguard seniors’ financial well-being.
Fighting Elder Abuse
ICBA CRA Solutions is supported by community bank funding and offers elder abuse prevention programs such as Senior Crimestoppers, which operates in majority low-income senior housing facilities. The foundation’s field representatives conduct educational outreach throughout the year, including onsite events at nursing homes and handouts in English and Spanish with tips on protecting private information and recognizing common scams. ICBA CRA Solutions and SHCPF offer these consumer tips to help safeguard against elder financial abuse:
-
Protect financial and personal records such as bank statements, account credentials, legal documents, and checkbooks in a secure location.
-
Monitor financial accounts regularly, including statements, credit reports, and automatic payments, to catch unauthorized or suspicious activity quickly.
-
Be wary of unsolicited requests. Do not share account information, Social Security numbers, or payment instructions with unknown callers, texters, or email senders.
-
Designate trusted financial contacts working with your banker and legal professionals to set up powers of attorney or authorized contacts to help manage finances, if needed.
-
Consult your community banker, who can help identify scams, provide fraud education resources, and work with families to put safeguards in place.
-
Report suspected abuse promptly by contacting your bank, Adult Protective Services, or law enforcement.
To learn more about elder financial abuse prevention, visit icba.org/eldercare. Community banks and senior care facilities interested in SHCPF outreach events can visit icba.org/cra to learn how to sponsor Senior Crimestoppers and earn CRA credit.
About ICBA CRA Solutions
ICBA CRA Solutions, a subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), offers compliance solutions powered by the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation. Since its inception in 2000, it has helped banks across the country earn meaningful CRA credit for ensuring safe senior living environments through turnkey crime prevention programs. For more information, visit ICBA CRA Solutions’ website at icba.org/cra.