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Empower Staff and Fight Financial Exploitation

AARP’s BankSafe training combines industry knowledge and experience with a state-of-the-art, online learning experience. AARP worked with more than 2,000 financial industry professionals to

develop the training platform’s content and interactive scenarios. The platform is one of few designed specifically for frontline staff, supervisors, financial advisors and compliance

officers.  

Users learn how to identify potential financial exploitation and take the right actions to stop it. In fact, researchers from Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology found that employees

trained with AARP BankSafe were able to save an average of 16 times more money per employee from financial exploitation than employees trained with other methods.   

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Features of the BankSafe training:

Self-paced activities fit into the busy schedules of staff.

Videos and activities build empathy and understanding of how to interact with older consumers

Interactive scenarios, games and quizzes enable staff to put their knowledge and skills to the test

AARP’s research connects the fight against exploitation to the impact on the financial industry

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Five modules contain short, bite-sized exercises that teach staff how to spot suspected exploitation and steps to take to stop the money before it leaves the account

State-specific reporting requirements and resources, as well as tip sheets, are at staff’s fingertips

Managers and supervisors can monitor staff’s progress

Trained staff receive a certificate showcasing their new skills

All banks, credit unions and investment firms within the United States can have their staff trained through the BankSafe platform at no cost.  

About the AARP BankSafe Trained Seal 

As part of the BankSafe program, banks, credit unions and investment firms can apply to have AARP verify that at least 80% of their frontline staff successfully passed the BankSafe training

and confirm that they have a financial-exploitation escalation reporting policy. Qualifying banks, credit unions, and investment firms in good standing can apply to receive a seal from AARP,

good for one year, recognizing their commitment to fighting exploitation. 

Learn more about the AARP BankSafe Trained Seal

Program Benefits for Financial Organizations  

social media communications Be recognized in an AARP news release Have their organization's name showcased on AARP's website

Please see our AARP BankSafe Trained Seal Terms and Conditions for more information.

2025 AARP BankSafe Verified Organizations

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The BankSafe training platform combines world-class content from AARP with a state-of-the-art online experience.  

Designed specifically for the frontline staff, call center representatives, financial advisors, supervisors and risk management officers who are at the forefront of the fight against

financial exploitation, BankSafe provides the best, most current and engaging training available to protect older consumers and empower the financial industry — namely your frontline staff.

If your question is not answered on this page and you need further assistance, please call the BankSafe Support Center at (800) 216-4910.

Frequently Asked Questions  

AARP developed the BankSafe training with input from over 2,000 bank, credit union, regulatory, legal, government, non-profit and law enforcement professionals. We’ve focused the training on

empowering frontline staff with the skills and confidence to take action to prevent money from ever leaving the account. The result is a highly engaging online learning experience with

interactive games, videos, real-life scenarios and state-specific resources. The BankSafe training:

scenarios, games and quizzes Includes content unique to the requirements, laws and resources in every state Connects the fight against financial exploitation to the impact to the financial

industry Complements and expands on other trainings the employee may have taken Fits into the busy schedules of staff by enabling them to complete the one-hour training at their own pace

What is included in the BankSafe training curriculum?

The BankSafe platform includes five modules, each with short, bite-sized education and training exercises, that employees can complete at their own pace or in one sitting. The five modules

comprising the roughly one-hour training are organized to help employees:

questions and take the right actions when they suspect financial exploitation. Understand state-specific reporting requirements and available community resources. Practice and put newfound

skills to the test. Will I know who has completed what sections of the training?

Yes. The BankSafe training platform includes administrative reporting tools that will allow you, and those you provide with administrator credentials, to see employee progress and

performance. The reporting tools include printable, customized reports that you can use for internal purposes or for use in coordination with regulators. Registration options also allow for

institutions to set up access to branch-specific reports.

AARP will present a personalized certificate to all employees that complete the BankSafe training course so that their peers and clients understand their commitment to stopping the

exploitation of older adults.

To be eligible to earn the BankSafe-Trained seal, financial organizations must meet all of the following criteria:

BankSafe training Certify that they maintain and implement a policy to escalate and report instances of suspected financial exploitation internally Be in good standing with the Federal

Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) or a state regulatory authority Have a Better Business

Bureau rating of at least a B- and zero outstanding issues Possess no concerning legal, regulatory or consumer complaints or rulings

Institutions who apply for and meet the requirements will be listed on AARP’s website and can request recognition materials for use by their organization.

training cost?

All banks and credit unions and investment firms within the United States can have their staff trained through the BankSafe training platform at no cost. 

different types of financial industry organizations (i.e. banks, credit unions, investment firms)?

Yes, there are three versions of the training available: one for banks, one for credit unions and one for investment firms. The core curriculum, features and look and feel are consistent

between each. The examples provided, interactive scenarios, terminology and industry expert interviews are all specific to each type of institution.

for accessing the training?

The BankSafe training platform is a custom-developed learning management system that you and your staff can access through any up-to-date web browser. You can see a full overview of the

technical requirements and recommendations for the training here.

Most financial organizations find that simply linking their staff to our platform meets their needs. We are currently exploring options for certain customized access methods. If you find the

platform won’t meet your needs, please contact the BankSafe Support Center at (800) 216-4910.

organization?

Yes. The below video previews many features of the AARP BankSafe training, which is free. When you register your organization, you’ll be able to preview the entire training before you

sign-up your employees. Please note that when provided the option between ‘Detailed Account’ and ‘Basic Account’, we recommend choosing ‘Detailed Account’. 

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