NC Banking Association Takes On Robbers

The North Carolina Bankers Association is going head to head with the state's bank robbers through a program designed to educate criminals on penalties while forming partnerships between banks and law enforcement.

The BankWatch campaign includes an aggressive community-wide advertising campaign publicizing prison terms and listing monetary rewards for those who provide useful information to law enforcement. The campaign also encourages law enforcement agencies to provide increased patrols, especially in areas with a high concentration of financial institutions. It also encourages programs for greater education and public awareness of bank employees. Technology will be used to provide law enforcement with additional tools for identification, apprehension and successful prosecution. New studies and assessments of robbery data will provide banks and police with the necessary information to make key decisions about security and branch locations.

Copyright © 2001 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 11, No. 11, 11/01