Bank Employee Fakes Customers’ Signatures, Withdraws Over $38,000 From Accounts: Federal Reserve

A US bank employee is being banned from working in the financial industry after he allegedly forged customer signatures to steal tens of thousands of dollars.

According to the Board of Governors of The Federal Reserve System, Julio Gonzalez, a former employee of Synovus Bank, has been barred from the financial industry for misappropriating $38,000 from customer accounts.

Authorities say that between December 2023 and January 2024, while employed at the Georgia-based bank, Gonzalez misappropriated the funds from three different customers – including forging their signatures – for his own personal gain.

“From December 21, 2023, through January 10, 2024, while employed as a universal banker, Gonzalez misappropriated over $38,000 from three Bank customers’ accounts, including by forging signatures on certain approval documents, for his own benefit.”

A criminal case was filed against him in the state of Florida, but Gonzalez agreed to make a deal and complete a pretrial diversion program.

The Federal Reserve says that Gonzalez is no longer allowed to participate in any financial institution due to his personal dishonesty, disregard of fiduciary responsibilities, willful violations of the law and unsafe banking practices.

According to the press release, the Board of Governors will not be taking any more enforcement actions on Gonzales over this matter.

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