Chesapeake Bank was recognized by AARP as a 2026 BankSafe Trained Seal recipient, recognizing the steps the institution has taken to curb financial exploitation of older adults.

Nationwide, 190 banks, credit unions and financial advisory firms have received this designation from AARP.

To earn the BankSafe Trained Seal, organizations must ensure at least 80 percent of frontline employees complete AARP’s BankSafe training annually, confirm policies are in place to report suspected financial exploitation, and meet required legal, ethical and consumer-protection standards.

“Safeguarding our customers is not optional—it’s a responsibility we take very seriously,” said Chesapeake Bank’s Jill Ortiz, Vice President, Retail Regional Manager. “Our frontline teams are often the first to notice when something doesn’t feel right. This training gives them the tools and confidence to step in, ask questions, and help protect our customers from financial harm.”

AARP BankSafe is a free, nationally recognized online training platform developed with input from more than 2,000 financial industry professionals. The program equips frontline staff to identify warning signs of financial exploitation, support financial caregivers, assist individuals experiencing cognitive decline, and make banking environments safer and more accessible.

According to independent research cited by AARP, a Virginia Tech study found that BankSafe-trained employees help save consumers 12 times more money than untrained employees. In 2025 alone, BankSafe training helped prevent an estimated $133 million in financial losses nationwide.

While the BankSafe Trained Seal is not an endorsement of specific products or services, it signals that a financial institution has made a meaningful, measurable commitment to training employees to recognize and help stop financial exploitation.

“Our customers trust us with their finances and their future,” Ortiz said. “Being recognized by AARP reinforces our promise to stay vigilant, proactive, and committed to keeping our communities safe.”