Jump to Content
ABA: The American Bankers Association
Skip Section Navigation

2023 Community Committment Awards Submission

  • Entry Category: Protecting Older Americans
  • Asset Size: Small

Bank of the Rockies strives to empower residents of all age demographics using financial education and advocacy efforts throughout the year. Employing a multi-agency and multi-generational approach, Bank of the Rockies’ Senior Champions fulfill this promise to our communities. These dedicated individuals are named in each one of Bank of the Rockies’ offices and the volunteer positions are occupied by staff at all levels of employment, from the teller line to office management to lending staff. Each is aggressively and consistently trained in recognizing the signs of elder abuse and cognitive decline. They are then tasked with actively utilizing this information to mitigate exploitation and customer loss in addition to imparting their knowledge to other staff members and to their communities through active and continuous engagement and outreach efforts. Encouraged to always think creatively, Senior Champions are challenged each year to bring innovative ideas to the group that both protect and celebrate the aging population throughout their communities. Relationship building is only one key to success of each Senior Champion and to the program as a whole, and Senior Champions are encouraged to suggest and build new and important relationships with stakeholders that they identify as key partners. Not only does this vital task strengthen the relationships with the communities, it allows for a more comprehensive and broad network of protective stakeholders for the aging population. It also ensures that these aging treasures remain active and engaged in their own communities through successful aging in place and empowers them to advocate for their own overall health and wellbeing knowing that they have an advocate in their community.