Bank Employee Accused of Stealing Almost $70,000 From Customer

A Missouri bank employee has been charged with stealing nearly $70,000 from a 78-year-old customer.

At a Glance

A Kansas City, Kansas, man is accused of stealing nearly $70,000 from an elderly customer at a Missouri bank in 2022.
The accused is John S. Werner, 23, a former employee of North American Savings Bank.
Werner faces one felony charge of financial exploitation of an elderly person.
The alleged theft was reported by Michael Liberman, 78, of Peculiar, Missouri.

Alleged Crime Details

A Kansas City, Kansas, man is accused of stealing nearly $70,000 from an elderly customer at a Missouri bank in 2022. John S. Werner, 23, a former employee of North American Savings Bank, is charged with financial exploitation of an elderly person. The report was made by Michael Liberman, 78, who noticed that a substantial amount had vanished from his savings account. Internal bank records revealed $68,224.16 was stolen via unauthorized PayPal transactions.

The thefts reportedly occurred between March 1 and August 15, 2022, after Werner accessed Liberman’s account. Werner’s account received deposits matching the missing amounts from Liberman’s account. North American Savings Bank reimbursed Liberman and absorbed the nearly $70,000 loss, declining to comment further on the charges or Werner’s employment.

According to investigators, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office conducted the probe, discovering that Werner had conducted inquiries into Liberman’s account near the onset of the unauthorized transactions. Multiple withdrawals were authorized to PayPal from Liberman’s account without his consent. Despite the internal review findings, Werner has not yet made a court appearance.

A years-long investigation finally has some answers after a former bank employee was charged for a nearly $70,000 transaction.

Details >>> https://t.co/cxX51qhzhu

— KCTV5 News (@KCTV5) August 17, 2024

Bank Employees and Trust

This case underscores the importance of trust between bank employees and customers, especially the elderly who are often more vulnerable to financial exploitation. Werner’s actions not only breached that trust but also highlighted potential vulnerabilities in the bank’s oversight mechanisms. The North American Savings Bank has multiple branches in Kansas City and the surrounding areas but has not disclosed which branch Werner worked at or the duration of his employment.

The investigation is still unfolding. A $25,000 cash bond for Werner has been issued, with his first court date yet to be scheduled. This incident highlights the critical need for stringent security protocols and regular audits to safeguard customers’ assets, particularly those of older Americans.

Customer Reimbursement and Broader Implications

A bank security officer confirmed that the institution reimbursed Liberman and assumed the financial loss, demonstrating some level of corporate responsibility. Nevertheless, the emotional and psychological toll on Liberman cannot be understated. The broader implications of such fraud cases continue to stir concerns among bank customers and industry experts alike. The case serves as a warning and a lesson to both financial institutions and account holders regarding vigilance and safeguarding measures.