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Central Valley Community Bank, Fresno, CA

Entry Year: 2018
Entry Category: Protecting Older Americans
Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Annual Shred Events

Program Summary:

In 2018, Central Valley Community Bank (CVCB) hosted its 12th Annual Shred Events, an initiative that begun when the rising threat of identity theft needed broader education and awareness. The annual campaign coincides with tax season and is hosted at select CVCB branches in California’s San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento Region. This year the bank hosted 20 shred events throughout the bank’s territory. The events are free of charge for customers and non-customers who are invited to bring up to four banker boxes to be shredded at branch sites.

The campaign goal is to generate community and customer awareness of the danger of incorrectly disposing of sensitive documents, which can lead to identity theft, the potential loss of funds, ruined credit score, and more.
CVCB believes that education is critical to prevent identity theft and this community service program is just one of many ways the bank strives to make a difference in the community. While the campaign is available to the general public, historical traffic at the shred events has been adults ages 60 plus – a target audience whose general practices is primarily paper-driven.