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Stay informed with out regularly updated resources. Each post convers a unique aspect of banking or finance to enhance your understanding and enable better financial decisions.
Paper checks may feel old-school, yet they remain the easiest gateway for thieves. The U.S. Treasury reports that check-fraud suspicious-activity filings have climbed 385 percent since the pandemic, while 63 percent of companies faced attempted or actual check fraud in 2024, according to the Association for Financial Professionals’ 2025 survey.occ.govafponline.org Those numbers tell a blunt story: even as businesses adopt ACH and virtual cards, the humble check still opens a back door to five- and six-figure losses.
The phone lit up in the back office of Sunshine Custom Cabinets on a Thursday afternoon.
Co-owner Angela Moreno glanced at the caller ID from her bank and expected a routine wire inquiry. Instead she heard:
“Ms. Moreno, six checks just cleared your account for almost ten thousand dollars each. Can you confirm them?”
Angela had mailed only three checks that week, none over $4,500. Somewhere between the post-office drop box and her suppliers’ lockboxes, thieves had “washed” the envelopes, bleached the ink, and rewritten the checks for a cool $59,821.32—wiping out two payroll cycles in minutes.
The next 48 hours blurred into police reports, fraud affidavits, and tense conversations with employees wondering if Friday’s pay would arrive. The bank eventually credited most of the money, but cash flow froze for nearly a month, and the team sank forty billable hours into cleaning up—a cost no insurance policy reimbursed.
Check fraud has morphed from fax-era nuisance to organized, AI-enhanced side hustle. The good news: consistent, unglamorous discipline—secure mailing, rapid reconciliation, and an automated pre-clearance layer—sends fraudsters looking for softer targets. Angela calls that Thursday “the most expensive lesson I never budgeted for.” Tighten your routine today, and you won’t need the same wake-up call.
Need a practical walkthrough of daily controls—minus the jargon? Talk with our Treasury Management team about fitting these layers to your workflow before your next envelope hits the mail.
As more banking moves online, security has become just as important as convenience. Whether you’re checking a personal account or managing company finances, your computer habits play a critical role in keeping your information safe. A few consistent practices can greatly reduce your risk of fraud and protect sensitive data.
Malware can capture keystrokes, steal login credentials, and access personal files without you realizing it. To stay protected:
Make full use of the security tools your devices and bank provide:
Closing your browser window isn’t enough to end your session.
Browsers can store sensitive information like login pages or cached credentials. To protect yourself:
Phishing emails and fraudulent pop-ups can trick you into giving away banking information. Watch for:
Best practice: Always access your bank by typing the official web address directly into your browser, never through email or ad links.
Businesses face higher risks, so proactive steps are essential:
Online banking can be safe and reliable when paired with good cybersecurity habits. By:
…you can protect both your finances and your peace of mind.
The key is consistency. Security isn’t a one-time task—it’s a set of habits built into your everyday banking routine. Taking these steps ensures your accounts remain secure, your sensitive information stays private, and you can manage your finances confidently, whether personally or for your business.
In the heart of downtown, amidst the vibrant pulse of local eateries and community events, there’s a name that keeps coming up: Chef Nora. If you’ve dined at De La Vega, you’ve likely experienced her artistry on a plate. But beyond the signature flavors and culinary finesse, there's a deeper, richer story — one of family, perseverance, and community love. And now, with her latest venture, Golden Meals, Chef Nora is cooking up something even more personal.
Chef Nora’s journey into the restaurant world began two decades ago when she and her family — her parents, brother, and sister — moved from New Mexico to Florida. They left behind everything familiar on the word of a family friend who saw promise in a vacant restaurant spot downtown.
With only a bit of restaurant experience between them, they leapt into entrepreneurship. “It wasn’t just a job,” Nora recalls. “I had already worked in restaurants. I realized what I really wanted was to have my own.” The family rallied around her dream — a move that not only shaped their livelihoods but also laid the groundwork for something bigger than any one of them could have imagined.
Their first venture was De La Vega — a name that not only carried their family heritage but symbolized their growing identity in the community. “We started with Tex-Mex,” Nora explained, “but quickly realized there were too many of those already. So we pivoted to something unique: Latin fusion with a tapas concept.”
It was a family effort from the start. Nora spearheaded the menu, crafting recipes with creativity and care, while her brother took on the general manager role. “It was our school,” she says. “Everything we’ve learned in the past 20 years, we learned by doing.”
Today, De La Vega is more than a restaurant — it’s a beloved local fixture. With loyal customers, an ever-evolving menu, and a consistent focus on flavor, it’s the kind of place that gets recommended again and again.
The concept for Golden Meals was born not in a commercial kitchen, but in Nora’s own home. “My dad was living in the senior apartments, and I used to make meals for him — healthy, ready to eat, so he didn’t have to cook.” After he passed away three years ago, Nora found herself talking to his neighbors — many of whom had similar needs. The idea began to take shape: a meal service designed to support seniors, promote wellness, and most importantly, taste amazing.
But what started as a personal project in memory of her father has grown into something with far wider impact.
While initially conceived as a service for seniors, Golden Meals quickly found a broader audience. “Everyone needs healthy food — busy moms, students, professionals,” Nora notes. “We realized this wasn’t just about one group. It’s for anyone who wants quick, affordable, and nutritious meals.”
When a deli inside a local natural market became available, the opportunity felt serendipitous. “Everything was ready — the kitchen, the space. We just had to bring the concept and the heart.”
Golden Meals officially opened its doors four months ago, operating weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It functions as both a grab-and-go cafe and a meal delivery service, offering flexible access for people with packed schedules or limited mobility. And yes — delivery is currently free.
Unlike De La Vega’s Latin fusion focus, Golden Meals is all about clean, fresh ingredients and variety. “We’re not tied to any one cuisine here. We can offer pasta, Asian dishes, vegan options — whatever inspires us and serves our community.”
Everything is made in-house, from scratch. Think: vibrant green beans sautéed with garlic and olive oil, sweet potatoes roasted to perfection, and macaroni salad that’s light but packed with flavor. Sodium and sugar are kept low; flavor is boosted with herbs and spices, not additives.
“We don’t want ‘healthy’ to mean boring,” Nora laughs. “You can eat well and still love every bite.”
Why the name Golden Meals? It’s a tribute to Nora’s father and the community he was part of. “It started with the idea of serving those in their golden years,” she says. “But now it means meals that are golden in quality, golden in purpose. Meals that make you feel good.”
Nora doesn’t shy away from talking about the hurdles. “The recession in 2008 hit us hard,” she remembers. “We had to get creative - package deals, specials, anything to bring people in.” Then came the hurricanes, five in their first year in Florida. And of course, COVID lockdown.
“That was one of the toughest. We had no staff. It was just me, my brother, my nephew, my niece. We were cooking, cleaning, delivering — everything. But we made it. That’s what matters.”
For other small business owners, she offers a simple but powerful reminder: “You just keep going. You pivot, you adapt, you lean on your family and your community. And you never lose sight of why you started.”
📍 Located inside the Natural Market
🕚 Open Monday–Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM
📱 Order online or through the Golden Meals app
🚚 Free delivery available for local orders
Whether you're a parent looking for healthier alternatives, a student in need of quick fuel, or a senior seeking convenient meals that actually taste good — Golden Meals has something on the menu for you.
At East Coast Precision, a mid-sized manufacturing company in Florida, business was booming. Their team of 75 employees worked hard producing high-quality aerospace components, and their reputation for precision and reliability was unmatched. But as the company grew, its leadership team—Mark, the founder, and Sarah, the operations manager—realized their employee benefits needed a rethink.
The question wasn’t just about what benefits to offer, but why.
East Coast Precision had a unique culture. Their employees valued stability, but they also needed flexibility. Many had families, some were nearing retirement, and a few had been with the company since its early days. Their competitor across town shut down for two weeks every December, giving employees a built-in break. But Mark and Sarah knew that wouldn’t work for them—their production schedule relied on steady output, and some employees preferred to spread their vacation days throughout the year.
Then came the tougher decisions: PTO policies, sick days, and financial benefits. Some employees wanted a 401(k), but others, like newer hires fresh out of trade school, were more concerned about weekly take-home pay than long-term savings. The leadership team had to balance what was best for employees with what kept the business strong.
In the end, they set clear, fair policies:
The result? Employees felt valued, turnover dropped, and the company’s production remained steady.
This lesson applies beyond manufacturing. Whether you run a law firm, a retail store, or a tech startup, the benefits you offer should reflect your company’s values and mission.
For a deeper dive into how company culture and leadership impact employee benefits, check out this episode of The Expandable video series:
▶️ watch here
This video highlights the importance of strong leadership in shaping workplace culture, ensuring that employees are supported while keeping the organization’s mission at the forefront. The same principles apply when designing benefits—leaders must make choices that align with their company’s values while balancing business needs.
Ultimately, employee benefits should be a reflection of your company’s identity. They should serve your employees while keeping the business strong and able to serve its customers. Whether that means closing for two weeks each year or offering flexible PTO, the key is to make intentional choices—ones that align with your mission and show employees that they matter.
At Surety Bank, we understand that businesses thrive when they build strong relationships—both with their customers and their teams. When you design benefits that truly fit your company culture, you create a workplace where employees feel valued, engaged, and ready to do their best work.
Forget Growth for Growth’s Sake. Scale Your Company With Purpose!
Every business owner dreams of growth—the big contracts, the expanding team, the larger facility. Growth is exciting, but what happens when it outpaces your ability to sustain it? For small to mid-sized business owners, the challenge isn’t just getting bigger—it’s growing profitably. Scale too quickly, and you could find yourself losing control of your business. Scale too cautiously, and you risk stagnation. So, how do you strike the right balance?
The Growth Trap: A Cautionary Tale
Imagine you own a manufacturing company, and a massive order comes in. It’s a dream deal—10,000 units instead of the usual 1,000. You scramble to increase production, hiring new employees, ordering more materials, even taking on debt to finance the expansion. But a few months later, you realize you’re barely breaking even. The new employees aren’t fully trained yet, production costs have skyrocketed, and cash flow is tight. Your profit margins, which seemed healthy before, are now razor-thin. Worse, your suppliers have increased their prices due to the larger volume, but you didn’t adjust your pricing in time. You’re now operating at a loss, despite the influx of new business.
This scenario is all too common. Growth, if not managed wisely, can erode profits instead of increasing them. The key? Strategic scaling.
Profitability First, Expansion Second
In the early days, you might not be profitable, and that’s okay. Many businesses start in the red, investing in marketing, product development, and hiring. However, you must ensure you’re not losing money per product. If each unit costs $12 to make and you sell it for $10, no amount of scaling will save you—you’re just multiplying losses.
Similarly, new employees take time to become profitable. Hiring is an investment in growth, but it often takes months before an employee generates more revenue than they cost. Business owners must anticipate this ramp-up period and avoid over-hiring too soon.
Where to Focus Your Growth
Not all growth is created equal. The most efficient areas of expansion are those where costs scale more slowly than revenue. Prioritize these strategies:
Controlled Growth vs. Losing Control
Growth is exhilarating, but it must be controlled. Many business owners get so caught up in expansion that they give up too much equity, bringing in investors who eventually take control. Others overextend, running out of cash when things don’t go as planned.
Instead, keep growth sustainable:
Avoid Growth for Growth’s Sake
It’s easy to get caught up in vanity metrics—chasing higher sales, expanding into new markets, or acquiring more customers—without asking whether that growth actually benefits the business. But growth is not a goal in itself; it should be a means to an end. Every expansion initiative should answer a fundamental question: Will this make my business stronger in the long run? If the answer isn’t clear, it may be a sign to reassess.
Strategic growth means planning ahead. Before you leap, have a roadmap. Set clear, measurable goals, such as: “We aim to increase production by 50% over the next 18 months, which should yield a 20% revenue increase while maintaining a 15% profit margin.” This approach ensures that growth aligns with financial health, rather than just inflating top-line revenue while squeezing profits.
Smart business owners don’t just chase expansion; they balance growth with profitability. They scale strategically, ensuring each step forward is sustainable, and never lose sight of their core business strengths. With a steady hand, you can grow your company without losing control of it—and that’s the real measure of success.
This is the first of a new series of fictional case study articles. The business principles are applicable to all industries, not just the industry mentioned below.
Mike had spent years building his commercial construction company from the ground up. He took pride in his work, bidding on high-profile projects and assembling what he thought was a solid team. But as his company grew, so did his hiring challenges—especially when it came to leadership positions.
One project in particular—a multi-million dollar office complex—pushed his business to the edge. Under pressure to meet deadlines, Mike rushed to hire a new project manager, Tom, who came with an impressive résumé and glowing recommendations. But within weeks, cracks began to show.
Tom cut corners, ordered cheaper materials to save costs (without approval), and ignored safety protocols. Worse, he treated crew members poorly, causing skilled workers to quit mid-project. By the time Mike caught on, the damage was done. The project was behind schedule, client trust had eroded, and fixing Tom’s mistakes cost the company thousands.
Determined not to repeat the mistake, Mike changed his hiring approach. He thoroughly vetted new hires, conducted trial periods for leadership roles, and built a workplace culture that rewarded integrity and reliability. Within a year, his company had a team of dedicated leaders who took pride in their work—and it showed in their projects.
For businesses like Mike’s, hiring the right leadership isn’t just about filling roles—it’s about protecting the company's reputation, profitability, and long-term success.
A business can only succeed if its leadership is competent, ethical, and aligned with company values. A poor leadership hire can derail entire teams, weaken morale, and ultimately cost the company in lost productivity and damaged relationships.
The problem isn’t just finding someone with the right credentials. Many executives, managers, and directors look great on paper but fail to lead effectively. Worse, some take advantage of their positions, making decisions that benefit themselves at the expense of the company.
Avoiding these pitfalls requires a thoughtful hiring strategy that goes beyond skills and experience to assess character, leadership style, and long-term commitment.
When hiring for leadership roles, businesses should focus on finding ethical, capable, and accountable individuals. Here’s how:
Even the best leadership hire won’t stick around if they feel undervalued or unsupported. To keep strong leaders, businesses should:
Hiring and retaining the right leaders is just as critical—if not more so—than hiring the right employees. Leaders set the tone for company culture, influence productivity, and ultimately determine business success.
If your company has struggled with hiring leadership roles, it’s time to refine your hiring process, emphasize integrity, and invest in leadership development. By learning from mistakes—like Mike did—and implementing better hiring and retention practices, businesses can build a team of strong, ethical leaders who drive long-term success.
For more pratical information on hiring for a leadership position, check out this recent episode of the Expandable Show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtRezs5v4oA
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
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For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
Fraud schemes continue to evolve, and one of the latest trends affecting Money Services Businesses involves contractor-related scams. Unlike traditional check fraud, these transactions often involve legitimate cashier's checks, making them more difficult to identify through normal check verification procedures.
Instead, the focus shifts to evaluating the business behind the transaction and determining whether the overall circumstances make sense.
The scam typically begins when individuals posing as contractors approach homeowners offering services such as roofing, driveway paving, masonry work, foundation repair, or waterproofing.
These businesses often appear completely legitimate. They may have professional websites, branded clothing, business cards, invoices, and positive online reviews. In many cases, the homeowner believes they are hiring a reputable contractor.
After the work is completed, or in some cases while it is underway, the homeowner is instructed to obtain a cashier's check for payment. That check is then presented to an MSB for cashing.
The challenge is that the cashier's check itself is often valid. The fraud lies in the business behind the transaction, not the payment instrument.
Many of these businesses are created solely to facilitate the fraud. They may complete some or all of the work, but the services are often performed by unqualified labor, or left unfinished with no intention of honoring warranties or returning to correct problems.
Because the checks themselves are legitimate, identifying potential risk depends on strong corporate due diligence and careful review of the business presenting the transaction.
One of the most valuable parts of corporate due diligence is looking beyond the paperwork and evaluating whether the overall transaction makes sense.
In many of these cases, the documentation appears complete. The business may have incorporation documents, a professional website, branded materials, and everything expected during a review. On the surface, it looks legitimate.
However, taking a closer look may reveal details that deserve additional attention. For example, a construction company incorporated only days or weeks ago may already be cashing a large cashier's check for a major roofing or foundation project. While each of these facts may be reasonable on its own, together they may warrant additional review.
Consider questions such as:
No single factor indicates fraud, and every transaction should be evaluated on its own merits. However, taking a moment to consider the complete picture can help identify higher-risk transactions before they become larger issues.
This type of fraud reinforces why maintaining thorough corporate due diligence procedures is so important.
Reviewing business registrations, ownership information, supporting documentation, and overall transaction activity helps MSBs make informed decisions while reducing operational and compliance risk.
Strong due diligence is not about assuming every new business is fraudulent. It is about asking the right questions when something does not appear consistent with the overall transaction.
Fraudsters continue to refine their tactics, making scams more convincing than ever. Professional websites, polished marketing materials, and valid payment instruments should never replace thoughtful review and sound judgment.
By combining established due diligence procedures with a careful evaluation of the entire transaction, MSBs can better identify emerging fraud trends and help protect both their business and their customers.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of community banking, one thing has remained constant throughout every decade: our commitment to people.
For Alexandra Wells, VP BSA Officer, that commitment is what makes community banking different.
After spending more than 20 years in the legal field, Alexandra joined Surety Bank in 2019, bringing together her legal experience and newly earned accounting degree to help protect customers from fraud, financial crimes, and suspicious activity. Since then, she has advanced through the Bank Secrecy Act department while helping strengthen Surety's commitment to customer protection. But for Alexandra, the work is about far more than regulations and risk management.
"It's about people," she says.
That philosophy became especially clear when an elderly customer began exhibiting unusual banking activity.
The customer, who had recently lost her husband and hired a caretaker, suddenly began cashing checks and making transactions that were completely out of character. Surety Bank's frontline staff noticed the changes immediately. Because they knew the customer and understood her normal banking habits, they recognized that something wasn't right.
The situation was escalated to Alexandra for further review.
After analyzing the account activity, Alexandra and another Surety employee visited the customer at her home. During the visit, several warning signs became apparent. The caretaker repeatedly answered questions on the customer's behalf, and purchases were being made that didn't align with the customer's typical behavior.
Further investigation revealed that the caretaker had gained access to the customer's debit card and was using it for personal purchases, including online shopping and vehicle rentals.
By acting quickly, Surety Bank was able to contact the customer's family, stop the unauthorized activity, and help prevent additional financial loss.
"It's one of the advantages of being a community bank," Alexandra explains. "Because we know our customers, we can recognize when something doesn't seem right and take action."
Stories like this highlight what has set Surety Bank apart for the past century. While technology and banking services continue to evolve, the foundation of community banking remains the same: relationships.
For Alexandra, those relationships extend beyond customers and into the workplace as well.
"At Surety Bank, you're not just a number," she says. "You're a person. We know each other by name, and we genuinely care about one another."
That culture of caring is reflected throughout the organization, from employees supporting one another through life's challenges to teams working together to serve customers with a personal touch.
As Surety Bank enters its second century, Alexandra believes the values that have guided the Bank for the last 100 years will continue to shape its future.
"We've always cared about our customers and our employees," she says. "That's the culture of Surety Bank, and I believe that's something that will continue for another century to come."
After 100 years, it's still how we've always done it: putting people first.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
Fraud schemes continue to evolve, and one of the latest trends affecting Money Services Businesses involves contractor-related scams. Unlike traditional check fraud, these transactions often involve legitimate cashier's checks, making them more difficult to identify through normal check verification procedures.
Instead, the focus shifts to evaluating the business behind the transaction and determining whether the overall circumstances make sense.
The scam typically begins when individuals posing as contractors approach homeowners offering services such as roofing, driveway paving, masonry work, foundation repair, or waterproofing.
These businesses often appear completely legitimate. They may have professional websites, branded clothing, business cards, invoices, and positive online reviews. In many cases, the homeowner believes they are hiring a reputable contractor.
After the work is completed, or in some cases while it is underway, the homeowner is instructed to obtain a cashier's check for payment. That check is then presented to an MSB for cashing.
The challenge is that the cashier's check itself is often valid. The fraud lies in the business behind the transaction, not the payment instrument.
Many of these businesses are created solely to facilitate the fraud. They may complete some or all of the work, but the services are often performed by unqualified labor, or left unfinished with no intention of honoring warranties or returning to correct problems.
Because the checks themselves are legitimate, identifying potential risk depends on strong corporate due diligence and careful review of the business presenting the transaction.
One of the most valuable parts of corporate due diligence is looking beyond the paperwork and evaluating whether the overall transaction makes sense.
In many of these cases, the documentation appears complete. The business may have incorporation documents, a professional website, branded materials, and everything expected during a review. On the surface, it looks legitimate.
However, taking a closer look may reveal details that deserve additional attention. For example, a construction company incorporated only days or weeks ago may already be cashing a large cashier's check for a major roofing or foundation project. While each of these facts may be reasonable on its own, together they may warrant additional review.
Consider questions such as:
No single factor indicates fraud, and every transaction should be evaluated on its own merits. However, taking a moment to consider the complete picture can help identify higher-risk transactions before they become larger issues.
This type of fraud reinforces why maintaining thorough corporate due diligence procedures is so important.
Reviewing business registrations, ownership information, supporting documentation, and overall transaction activity helps MSBs make informed decisions while reducing operational and compliance risk.
Strong due diligence is not about assuming every new business is fraudulent. It is about asking the right questions when something does not appear consistent with the overall transaction.
Fraudsters continue to refine their tactics, making scams more convincing than ever. Professional websites, polished marketing materials, and valid payment instruments should never replace thoughtful review and sound judgment.
By combining established due diligence procedures with a careful evaluation of the entire transaction, MSBs can better identify emerging fraud trends and help protect both their business and their customers.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of community banking, one thing has remained constant throughout every decade: our commitment to people.
For Alexandra Wells, VP BSA Officer, that commitment is what makes community banking different.
After spending more than 20 years in the legal field, Alexandra joined Surety Bank in 2019, bringing together her legal experience and newly earned accounting degree to help protect customers from fraud, financial crimes, and suspicious activity. Since then, she has advanced through the Bank Secrecy Act department while helping strengthen Surety's commitment to customer protection. But for Alexandra, the work is about far more than regulations and risk management.
"It's about people," she says.
That philosophy became especially clear when an elderly customer began exhibiting unusual banking activity.
The customer, who had recently lost her husband and hired a caretaker, suddenly began cashing checks and making transactions that were completely out of character. Surety Bank's frontline staff noticed the changes immediately. Because they knew the customer and understood her normal banking habits, they recognized that something wasn't right.
The situation was escalated to Alexandra for further review.
After analyzing the account activity, Alexandra and another Surety employee visited the customer at her home. During the visit, several warning signs became apparent. The caretaker repeatedly answered questions on the customer's behalf, and purchases were being made that didn't align with the customer's typical behavior.
Further investigation revealed that the caretaker had gained access to the customer's debit card and was using it for personal purchases, including online shopping and vehicle rentals.
By acting quickly, Surety Bank was able to contact the customer's family, stop the unauthorized activity, and help prevent additional financial loss.
"It's one of the advantages of being a community bank," Alexandra explains. "Because we know our customers, we can recognize when something doesn't seem right and take action."
Stories like this highlight what has set Surety Bank apart for the past century. While technology and banking services continue to evolve, the foundation of community banking remains the same: relationships.
For Alexandra, those relationships extend beyond customers and into the workplace as well.
"At Surety Bank, you're not just a number," she says. "You're a person. We know each other by name, and we genuinely care about one another."
That culture of caring is reflected throughout the organization, from employees supporting one another through life's challenges to teams working together to serve customers with a personal touch.
As Surety Bank enters its second century, Alexandra believes the values that have guided the Bank for the last 100 years will continue to shape its future.
"We've always cared about our customers and our employees," she says. "That's the culture of Surety Bank, and I believe that's something that will continue for another century to come."
After 100 years, it's still how we've always done it: putting people first.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
Fraud schemes continue to evolve, and one of the latest trends affecting Money Services Businesses involves contractor-related scams. Unlike traditional check fraud, these transactions often involve legitimate cashier's checks, making them more difficult to identify through normal check verification procedures.
Instead, the focus shifts to evaluating the business behind the transaction and determining whether the overall circumstances make sense.
The scam typically begins when individuals posing as contractors approach homeowners offering services such as roofing, driveway paving, masonry work, foundation repair, or waterproofing.
These businesses often appear completely legitimate. They may have professional websites, branded clothing, business cards, invoices, and positive online reviews. In many cases, the homeowner believes they are hiring a reputable contractor.
After the work is completed, or in some cases while it is underway, the homeowner is instructed to obtain a cashier's check for payment. That check is then presented to an MSB for cashing.
The challenge is that the cashier's check itself is often valid. The fraud lies in the business behind the transaction, not the payment instrument.
Many of these businesses are created solely to facilitate the fraud. They may complete some or all of the work, but the services are often performed by unqualified labor, or left unfinished with no intention of honoring warranties or returning to correct problems.
Because the checks themselves are legitimate, identifying potential risk depends on strong corporate due diligence and careful review of the business presenting the transaction.
One of the most valuable parts of corporate due diligence is looking beyond the paperwork and evaluating whether the overall transaction makes sense.
In many of these cases, the documentation appears complete. The business may have incorporation documents, a professional website, branded materials, and everything expected during a review. On the surface, it looks legitimate.
However, taking a closer look may reveal details that deserve additional attention. For example, a construction company incorporated only days or weeks ago may already be cashing a large cashier's check for a major roofing or foundation project. While each of these facts may be reasonable on its own, together they may warrant additional review.
Consider questions such as:
No single factor indicates fraud, and every transaction should be evaluated on its own merits. However, taking a moment to consider the complete picture can help identify higher-risk transactions before they become larger issues.
This type of fraud reinforces why maintaining thorough corporate due diligence procedures is so important.
Reviewing business registrations, ownership information, supporting documentation, and overall transaction activity helps MSBs make informed decisions while reducing operational and compliance risk.
Strong due diligence is not about assuming every new business is fraudulent. It is about asking the right questions when something does not appear consistent with the overall transaction.
Fraudsters continue to refine their tactics, making scams more convincing than ever. Professional websites, polished marketing materials, and valid payment instruments should never replace thoughtful review and sound judgment.
By combining established due diligence procedures with a careful evaluation of the entire transaction, MSBs can better identify emerging fraud trends and help protect both their business and their customers.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of community banking, one thing has remained constant throughout every decade: our commitment to people.
For Alexandra Wells, VP BSA Officer, that commitment is what makes community banking different.
After spending more than 20 years in the legal field, Alexandra joined Surety Bank in 2019, bringing together her legal experience and newly earned accounting degree to help protect customers from fraud, financial crimes, and suspicious activity. Since then, she has advanced through the Bank Secrecy Act department while helping strengthen Surety's commitment to customer protection. But for Alexandra, the work is about far more than regulations and risk management.
"It's about people," she says.
That philosophy became especially clear when an elderly customer began exhibiting unusual banking activity.
The customer, who had recently lost her husband and hired a caretaker, suddenly began cashing checks and making transactions that were completely out of character. Surety Bank's frontline staff noticed the changes immediately. Because they knew the customer and understood her normal banking habits, they recognized that something wasn't right.
The situation was escalated to Alexandra for further review.
After analyzing the account activity, Alexandra and another Surety employee visited the customer at her home. During the visit, several warning signs became apparent. The caretaker repeatedly answered questions on the customer's behalf, and purchases were being made that didn't align with the customer's typical behavior.
Further investigation revealed that the caretaker had gained access to the customer's debit card and was using it for personal purchases, including online shopping and vehicle rentals.
By acting quickly, Surety Bank was able to contact the customer's family, stop the unauthorized activity, and help prevent additional financial loss.
"It's one of the advantages of being a community bank," Alexandra explains. "Because we know our customers, we can recognize when something doesn't seem right and take action."
Stories like this highlight what has set Surety Bank apart for the past century. While technology and banking services continue to evolve, the foundation of community banking remains the same: relationships.
For Alexandra, those relationships extend beyond customers and into the workplace as well.
"At Surety Bank, you're not just a number," she says. "You're a person. We know each other by name, and we genuinely care about one another."
That culture of caring is reflected throughout the organization, from employees supporting one another through life's challenges to teams working together to serve customers with a personal touch.
As Surety Bank enters its second century, Alexandra believes the values that have guided the Bank for the last 100 years will continue to shape its future.
"We've always cared about our customers and our employees," she says. "That's the culture of Surety Bank, and I believe that's something that will continue for another century to come."
After 100 years, it's still how we've always done it: putting people first.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
Fraud schemes continue to evolve, and one of the latest trends affecting Money Services Businesses involves contractor-related scams. Unlike traditional check fraud, these transactions often involve legitimate cashier's checks, making them more difficult to identify through normal check verification procedures.
Instead, the focus shifts to evaluating the business behind the transaction and determining whether the overall circumstances make sense.
The scam typically begins when individuals posing as contractors approach homeowners offering services such as roofing, driveway paving, masonry work, foundation repair, or waterproofing.
These businesses often appear completely legitimate. They may have professional websites, branded clothing, business cards, invoices, and positive online reviews. In many cases, the homeowner believes they are hiring a reputable contractor.
After the work is completed, or in some cases while it is underway, the homeowner is instructed to obtain a cashier's check for payment. That check is then presented to an MSB for cashing.
The challenge is that the cashier's check itself is often valid. The fraud lies in the business behind the transaction, not the payment instrument.
Many of these businesses are created solely to facilitate the fraud. They may complete some or all of the work, but the services are often performed by unqualified labor, or left unfinished with no intention of honoring warranties or returning to correct problems.
Because the checks themselves are legitimate, identifying potential risk depends on strong corporate due diligence and careful review of the business presenting the transaction.
One of the most valuable parts of corporate due diligence is looking beyond the paperwork and evaluating whether the overall transaction makes sense.
In many of these cases, the documentation appears complete. The business may have incorporation documents, a professional website, branded materials, and everything expected during a review. On the surface, it looks legitimate.
However, taking a closer look may reveal details that deserve additional attention. For example, a construction company incorporated only days or weeks ago may already be cashing a large cashier's check for a major roofing or foundation project. While each of these facts may be reasonable on its own, together they may warrant additional review.
Consider questions such as:
No single factor indicates fraud, and every transaction should be evaluated on its own merits. However, taking a moment to consider the complete picture can help identify higher-risk transactions before they become larger issues.
This type of fraud reinforces why maintaining thorough corporate due diligence procedures is so important.
Reviewing business registrations, ownership information, supporting documentation, and overall transaction activity helps MSBs make informed decisions while reducing operational and compliance risk.
Strong due diligence is not about assuming every new business is fraudulent. It is about asking the right questions when something does not appear consistent with the overall transaction.
Fraudsters continue to refine their tactics, making scams more convincing than ever. Professional websites, polished marketing materials, and valid payment instruments should never replace thoughtful review and sound judgment.
By combining established due diligence procedures with a careful evaluation of the entire transaction, MSBs can better identify emerging fraud trends and help protect both their business and their customers.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of community banking, one thing has remained constant throughout every decade: our commitment to people.
For Alexandra Wells, VP BSA Officer, that commitment is what makes community banking different.
After spending more than 20 years in the legal field, Alexandra joined Surety Bank in 2019, bringing together her legal experience and newly earned accounting degree to help protect customers from fraud, financial crimes, and suspicious activity. Since then, she has advanced through the Bank Secrecy Act department while helping strengthen Surety's commitment to customer protection. But for Alexandra, the work is about far more than regulations and risk management.
"It's about people," she says.
That philosophy became especially clear when an elderly customer began exhibiting unusual banking activity.
The customer, who had recently lost her husband and hired a caretaker, suddenly began cashing checks and making transactions that were completely out of character. Surety Bank's frontline staff noticed the changes immediately. Because they knew the customer and understood her normal banking habits, they recognized that something wasn't right.
The situation was escalated to Alexandra for further review.
After analyzing the account activity, Alexandra and another Surety employee visited the customer at her home. During the visit, several warning signs became apparent. The caretaker repeatedly answered questions on the customer's behalf, and purchases were being made that didn't align with the customer's typical behavior.
Further investigation revealed that the caretaker had gained access to the customer's debit card and was using it for personal purchases, including online shopping and vehicle rentals.
By acting quickly, Surety Bank was able to contact the customer's family, stop the unauthorized activity, and help prevent additional financial loss.
"It's one of the advantages of being a community bank," Alexandra explains. "Because we know our customers, we can recognize when something doesn't seem right and take action."
Stories like this highlight what has set Surety Bank apart for the past century. While technology and banking services continue to evolve, the foundation of community banking remains the same: relationships.
For Alexandra, those relationships extend beyond customers and into the workplace as well.
"At Surety Bank, you're not just a number," she says. "You're a person. We know each other by name, and we genuinely care about one another."
That culture of caring is reflected throughout the organization, from employees supporting one another through life's challenges to teams working together to serve customers with a personal touch.
As Surety Bank enters its second century, Alexandra believes the values that have guided the Bank for the last 100 years will continue to shape its future.
"We've always cared about our customers and our employees," she says. "That's the culture of Surety Bank, and I believe that's something that will continue for another century to come."
After 100 years, it's still how we've always done it: putting people first.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
Fraud schemes continue to evolve, and one of the latest trends affecting Money Services Businesses involves contractor-related scams. Unlike traditional check fraud, these transactions often involve legitimate cashier's checks, making them more difficult to identify through normal check verification procedures.
Instead, the focus shifts to evaluating the business behind the transaction and determining whether the overall circumstances make sense.
The scam typically begins when individuals posing as contractors approach homeowners offering services such as roofing, driveway paving, masonry work, foundation repair, or waterproofing.
These businesses often appear completely legitimate. They may have professional websites, branded clothing, business cards, invoices, and positive online reviews. In many cases, the homeowner believes they are hiring a reputable contractor.
After the work is completed, or in some cases while it is underway, the homeowner is instructed to obtain a cashier's check for payment. That check is then presented to an MSB for cashing.
The challenge is that the cashier's check itself is often valid. The fraud lies in the business behind the transaction, not the payment instrument.
Many of these businesses are created solely to facilitate the fraud. They may complete some or all of the work, but the services are often performed by unqualified labor, or left unfinished with no intention of honoring warranties or returning to correct problems.
Because the checks themselves are legitimate, identifying potential risk depends on strong corporate due diligence and careful review of the business presenting the transaction.
One of the most valuable parts of corporate due diligence is looking beyond the paperwork and evaluating whether the overall transaction makes sense.
In many of these cases, the documentation appears complete. The business may have incorporation documents, a professional website, branded materials, and everything expected during a review. On the surface, it looks legitimate.
However, taking a closer look may reveal details that deserve additional attention. For example, a construction company incorporated only days or weeks ago may already be cashing a large cashier's check for a major roofing or foundation project. While each of these facts may be reasonable on its own, together they may warrant additional review.
Consider questions such as:
No single factor indicates fraud, and every transaction should be evaluated on its own merits. However, taking a moment to consider the complete picture can help identify higher-risk transactions before they become larger issues.
This type of fraud reinforces why maintaining thorough corporate due diligence procedures is so important.
Reviewing business registrations, ownership information, supporting documentation, and overall transaction activity helps MSBs make informed decisions while reducing operational and compliance risk.
Strong due diligence is not about assuming every new business is fraudulent. It is about asking the right questions when something does not appear consistent with the overall transaction.
Fraudsters continue to refine their tactics, making scams more convincing than ever. Professional websites, polished marketing materials, and valid payment instruments should never replace thoughtful review and sound judgment.
By combining established due diligence procedures with a careful evaluation of the entire transaction, MSBs can better identify emerging fraud trends and help protect both their business and their customers.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of community banking, one thing has remained constant throughout every decade: our commitment to people.
For Alexandra Wells, VP BSA Officer, that commitment is what makes community banking different.
After spending more than 20 years in the legal field, Alexandra joined Surety Bank in 2019, bringing together her legal experience and newly earned accounting degree to help protect customers from fraud, financial crimes, and suspicious activity. Since then, she has advanced through the Bank Secrecy Act department while helping strengthen Surety's commitment to customer protection. But for Alexandra, the work is about far more than regulations and risk management.
"It's about people," she says.
That philosophy became especially clear when an elderly customer began exhibiting unusual banking activity.
The customer, who had recently lost her husband and hired a caretaker, suddenly began cashing checks and making transactions that were completely out of character. Surety Bank's frontline staff noticed the changes immediately. Because they knew the customer and understood her normal banking habits, they recognized that something wasn't right.
The situation was escalated to Alexandra for further review.
After analyzing the account activity, Alexandra and another Surety employee visited the customer at her home. During the visit, several warning signs became apparent. The caretaker repeatedly answered questions on the customer's behalf, and purchases were being made that didn't align with the customer's typical behavior.
Further investigation revealed that the caretaker had gained access to the customer's debit card and was using it for personal purchases, including online shopping and vehicle rentals.
By acting quickly, Surety Bank was able to contact the customer's family, stop the unauthorized activity, and help prevent additional financial loss.
"It's one of the advantages of being a community bank," Alexandra explains. "Because we know our customers, we can recognize when something doesn't seem right and take action."
Stories like this highlight what has set Surety Bank apart for the past century. While technology and banking services continue to evolve, the foundation of community banking remains the same: relationships.
For Alexandra, those relationships extend beyond customers and into the workplace as well.
"At Surety Bank, you're not just a number," she says. "You're a person. We know each other by name, and we genuinely care about one another."
That culture of caring is reflected throughout the organization, from employees supporting one another through life's challenges to teams working together to serve customers with a personal touch.
As Surety Bank enters its second century, Alexandra believes the values that have guided the Bank for the last 100 years will continue to shape its future.
"We've always cared about our customers and our employees," she says. "That's the culture of Surety Bank, and I believe that's something that will continue for another century to come."
After 100 years, it's still how we've always done it: putting people first.
Personal fraud continues to evolve, and scammers are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to target consumers. From AI-powered messages that appear surprisingly convincing to attempts to gain access to entire financial accounts. Recognizing the warning signs is becoming more important than ever.
While you can't prevent every fraud attempt, knowing what to watch for and taking a few proactive steps can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Artificial intelligence is making fraudulent calls and text messages feel more personal and legitimate. Scammers can use AI to create convincing communications designed to make you believe you're interacting with a trusted person or organization.
Be cautious when you receive an unexpected call or message asking for personal information, money, or access to an account. Before responding or taking action, reach out to Surety Bank directly to verify they are the ones calling. This step could mean not being scammed out of your money.
Fraudsters are increasingly looking beyond individual credit card numbers and attempting to gain access to entire financial profiles, including personal bank and investment accounts.
Protect your accounts by regularly reviewing activity for transactions you don't recognize and using multifactor authentication whenever it's available. Never provide your password, login credentials, or verification codes to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
If you notice something unusual in your Surety Bank account, contact us promptly.
Older adults continue to be frequent targets of financial scams, particularly those involving tech support and investment-related schemes.
These scams often rely on urgency or fear to convince someone to act before they have an opportunity to question what's happening. Talk with older family members about common scams and encourage them to check with someone they trust before sending money or providing sensitive information in response to an unexpected request.
Taking a few minutes to verify a situation can help prevent a significant financial loss.
Protecting yourself doesn't require becoming a fraud expert. Start by being skeptical of unexpected requests for money or information, especially when someone pressures you to act immediately.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication when available. Avoid clicking links in unexpected emails or text messages, and regularly review your bank accounts and credit reports for activity you don't recognize.
Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify before taking action.
If you'd like to take additional steps to protect yourself, here are three resources worth exploring:
FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Best for someone who thinks their identity has already been compromised. The FTC provides a personalized recovery plan and steps for addressing identity theft.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov
FTC Credit Freeze & Fraud Alert Guide
Customers can place a free credit freeze, which can prevent identity thieves from opening new credit accounts in their name, or add a fraud alert.
Learn About Credit Freezes & Fraud Alerts
Aura
For those interested in a paid protection service, Aura offers identity and financial monitoring tools and other fraud-protection features. I’d position this as an optional third-party tool, not something Surety is recommending over other services.
Explore Aura
These resources are provided for informational purposes. Surety Bank does not endorse or guarantee any third-party product or service.
Fraud tactics will continue to change, but one of your strongest defenses is also one of the simplest: slow down.
Scammers often depend on creating urgency so you act before thinking. If you're unsure about a request involving your Surety Bank account, don't rely on the phone number, link, or contact information provided in the message. Contact Surety Bank directly through a trusted channel.
We're here to help you protect your financial information and recognize potential fraud before it becomes a loss.
For Maria Bonfiglio, working at Surety Bank has always been about more than banking. It's about taking care of people.
Maria has been part of the Surety Bank family for nine years, but her journey began with a simple text message. A former boss she had stayed in touch with reached out years after they had worked together and told her, "I have the perfect job for you." Maria's response was simple: "Where should I sign?"
Nine years later, her enthusiasm hasn't changed.
"I love it. I love my job."
Over the years, Maria's role has evolved, giving her the opportunity to learn new skills and develop deeper relationships with customers. She has gotten to know some of them so well that she can recognize who is calling just by the sound of their voice. For Maria, those relationships are what make Surety feel less like a workplace and more like a family.
That personal connection also shapes the way Maria approaches protecting customers.
When something doesn't seem right, she isn't afraid to ask questions. Whether she's reviewing a check or helping someone resolve an issue with an account, Maria understands that taking a little extra time can make a significant difference.
"We really care about our customers," Maria explains. Even when customers may wonder why the bank is asking additional questions, she wants them to understand the reason behind it. "We don't want them to lose money."
For Maria, that care isn't limited to customers. She has experienced it personally as an employee.
During some of the most difficult moments of her life, including an extended hospital stay and the loss of her son, Maria remembers her Surety family checking on her, visiting her, and making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Those experiences showed her that the relationships Surety talks about aren't simply something customers experience. They're part of the culture inside the bank, too.
It's also why Maria believes Surety Bank has remained part of the community for 100 years. She has worked at other banks, but says Surety's involvement in the community feels different. The bank isn't trying to be the biggest. Instead, it has remained focused on the people and communities it serves.
That same philosophy comes through in Maria's relationships with her customers. Some have developed such a strong connection with her that when they call, they specifically ask for Maria. She takes pride in being someone they know they can turn to when they have a question or need assistance.
After nine years, Maria still says thank you for the opportunity that brought her to Surety Bank. Her story is a reminder that relationship banking begins with people who genuinely care about the people on the other side of the counter or phone.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For Lewis Long III, banking with Surety Bank is a relationship that has lasted more than five decades.
As one of Surety Bank's longest-standing customers, Lewis has watched the bank grow alongside the community since his connection to Surety began more than 50 years ago. He originally opened a savings account after hearing from neighbors that the bank consistently offered strong value and genuinely cared about its customers.
Over the years, Lewis has seen a lot of change. He remembers making deposits with a passbook while employees manually updated balances using a hand-cranked adding machine. What hasn't changed, however, is the way Surety Bank treats the people who walk through its doors.
For Lewis, that commitment extends beyond his own banking experience. When his sons were born, he opened accounts for each of them at Surety Bank, continuing a family tradition that has now spanned generations. One of his sons even participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony when Surety Bank dedicated its current building in the early 1990s.
Throughout his life of military service, public service, and community involvement, Lewis has always returned to the same bank.
What has kept him loyal all these years?
The answer is simple: people.
"You couldn't ask for better service or better people," Lewis says. "I don't know how they remember everybody's name that walks in the door, but they do. They're just super folks. The people have always been a gift to us and to the community."
Lewis believes that the values Surety Bank was founded on continue to define the bank today. One story from the bank's early history has always stayed with him. During the Great Depression, he recalls hearing that Surety worked with customers rather than rushing to foreclose on them because they cared more about helping people than taking their property. That philosophy, he says, is still reflected in the way the bank serves its customers today.
It's one of the reasons Lewis has become an advocate for the bank wherever he goes.
Whether he's encouraging friends to open a money market account, sharing the bank's history, or even suggesting a new Surety branch for his hometown of Lake Helen, Lewis proudly recommends the bank he's trusted for more than half a century.
"I wouldn't champion the bank if I didn't believe in these folks and believe in this bank," he says. "Everybody is important. They see past whatever's bothering someone that day and still treat people with kindness and respect."
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of serving Central Florida, customers like Lewis remind us that while banking has evolved, some things should never change. Genuine relationships, exceptional service, and a commitment to the community remain at the heart of everything we do.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it. It's how we will always do it.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that community banking means more than serving customers inside the walls of a branch. It means investing in the people, organizations, and partnerships that help our communities thrive.
That commitment is something Carla Quann, Director of Community Relations for the Volusia Sheriff's Office, has experienced firsthand.
"Our goal is to support everyone in our community," Carla explains. "Ryan [James] wanted to be a part of what we're doing because he cares about the community."
The partnership between Surety Bank and the Volusia Sheriff's Office began when Surety Bank President & CEO Ryan James joined the Volusia Sheriff's Foundation Board. Since then, the relationship has grown into a collaborative effort focused on addressing some of the community's greatest needs.
One example came during the holiday season, when thousands of local families faced uncertainty after SNAP benefits were unexpectedly interrupted. Through the combined efforts of businesses, volunteers, and community organizations, more than 3,500 grocery bags were distributed to families throughout Volusia County.
According to Carla, Surety Bank was an important part of making that effort possible.
Beyond community events and charitable initiatives, the partnership has also helped strengthen public safety.
As financial scams targeting older adults became increasingly common, Surety Bank worked alongside the Sheriff's Office to provide education, share industry expertise, and help detectives better recognize the warning signs of fraud.
That collaboration ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Volusia Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit—a dedicated team focused on protecting residents from fraud and financial exploitation.
Working together, those efforts have helped recover more than $2 million for local victims of financial crimes.
For Carla, those results reflect what makes Surety Bank different.
"They're not just another hometown bank," she says. "They care about their community."
She believes that commitment starts with customer service but extends far beyond banking. Whether supporting nonprofit organizations, helping law enforcement address emerging scams, or simply answering the phone when someone needs help, Surety Bank has built relationships rooted in trust.
"People trust them," Carla says. "They've built that trust with their customers, and that's why people stay."
As Surety Bank celebrates a century of serving Central Florida, partnerships like this demonstrate that community banking isn't defined only by financial services—it's measured by the impact a bank has on the people and communities it serves.
For 100 years, Surety Bank has believed that when communities succeed, everyone succeeds. Through partnerships built on trust, service, and shared purpose, that commitment continues today—and will continue for generations to come.
Fraud schemes continue to evolve, and one of the latest trends affecting Money Services Businesses involves contractor-related scams. Unlike traditional check fraud, these transactions often involve legitimate cashier's checks, making them more difficult to identify through normal check verification procedures.
Instead, the focus shifts to evaluating the business behind the transaction and determining whether the overall circumstances make sense.
The scam typically begins when individuals posing as contractors approach homeowners offering services such as roofing, driveway paving, masonry work, foundation repair, or waterproofing.
These businesses often appear completely legitimate. They may have professional websites, branded clothing, business cards, invoices, and positive online reviews. In many cases, the homeowner believes they are hiring a reputable contractor.
After the work is completed, or in some cases while it is underway, the homeowner is instructed to obtain a cashier's check for payment. That check is then presented to an MSB for cashing.
The challenge is that the cashier's check itself is often valid. The fraud lies in the business behind the transaction, not the payment instrument.
Many of these businesses are created solely to facilitate the fraud. They may complete some or all of the work, but the services are often performed by unqualified labor, or left unfinished with no intention of honoring warranties or returning to correct problems.
Because the checks themselves are legitimate, identifying potential risk depends on strong corporate due diligence and careful review of the business presenting the transaction.
One of the most valuable parts of corporate due diligence is looking beyond the paperwork and evaluating whether the overall transaction makes sense.
In many of these cases, the documentation appears complete. The business may have incorporation documents, a professional website, branded materials, and everything expected during a review. On the surface, it looks legitimate.
However, taking a closer look may reveal details that deserve additional attention. For example, a construction company incorporated only days or weeks ago may already be cashing a large cashier's check for a major roofing or foundation project. While each of these facts may be reasonable on its own, together they may warrant additional review.
Consider questions such as:
No single factor indicates fraud, and every transaction should be evaluated on its own merits. However, taking a moment to consider the complete picture can help identify higher-risk transactions before they become larger issues.
This type of fraud reinforces why maintaining thorough corporate due diligence procedures is so important.
Reviewing business registrations, ownership information, supporting documentation, and overall transaction activity helps MSBs make informed decisions while reducing operational and compliance risk.
Strong due diligence is not about assuming every new business is fraudulent. It is about asking the right questions when something does not appear consistent with the overall transaction.
Fraudsters continue to refine their tactics, making scams more convincing than ever. Professional websites, polished marketing materials, and valid payment instruments should never replace thoughtful review and sound judgment.
By combining established due diligence procedures with a careful evaluation of the entire transaction, MSBs can better identify emerging fraud trends and help protect both their business and their customers.
As Surety Bank celebrates 100 years of community banking, one thing has remained constant throughout every decade: our commitment to people.
For Alexandra Wells, VP BSA Officer, that commitment is what makes community banking different.
After spending more than 20 years in the legal field, Alexandra joined Surety Bank in 2019, bringing together her legal experience and newly earned accounting degree to help protect customers from fraud, financial crimes, and suspicious activity. Since then, she has advanced through the Bank Secrecy Act department while helping strengthen Surety's commitment to customer protection. But for Alexandra, the work is about far more than regulations and risk management.
"It's about people," she says.
That philosophy became especially clear when an elderly customer began exhibiting unusual banking activity.
The customer, who had recently lost her husband and hired a caretaker, suddenly began cashing checks and making transactions that were completely out of character. Surety Bank's frontline staff noticed the changes immediately. Because they knew the customer and understood her normal banking habits, they recognized that something wasn't right.
The situation was escalated to Alexandra for further review.
After analyzing the account activity, Alexandra and another Surety employee visited the customer at her home. During the visit, several warning signs became apparent. The caretaker repeatedly answered questions on the customer's behalf, and purchases were being made that didn't align with the customer's typical behavior.
Further investigation revealed that the caretaker had gained access to the customer's debit card and was using it for personal purchases, including online shopping and vehicle rentals.
By acting quickly, Surety Bank was able to contact the customer's family, stop the unauthorized activity, and help prevent additional financial loss.
"It's one of the advantages of being a community bank," Alexandra explains. "Because we know our customers, we can recognize when something doesn't seem right and take action."
Stories like this highlight what has set Surety Bank apart for the past century. While technology and banking services continue to evolve, the foundation of community banking remains the same: relationships.
For Alexandra, those relationships extend beyond customers and into the workplace as well.
"At Surety Bank, you're not just a number," she says. "You're a person. We know each other by name, and we genuinely care about one another."
That culture of caring is reflected throughout the organization, from employees supporting one another through life's challenges to teams working together to serve customers with a personal touch.
As Surety Bank enters its second century, Alexandra believes the values that have guided the Bank for the last 100 years will continue to shape its future.
"We've always cared about our customers and our employees," she says. "That's the culture of Surety Bank, and I believe that's something that will continue for another century to come."
After 100 years, it's still how we've always done it: putting people first.
For many Money Services Businesses (MSBs), corporate due diligence files are completed during onboarding and are not reviewed on a regular basis. Over time, documents expire, registrations lapse, and required updates are overlooked.
The problem is that these files are not simply internal paperwork or a bank requirement. In many states, maintaining accurate and current corporate due diligence documentation is part of an MSB’s broader compliance responsibilities.
When documentation is incomplete or outdated, it can create operational disruptions that directly affect your business.
One of the most common issues we continue seeing involves outdated or incomplete documentation for businesses whose checks are being cashed.
In many cases, the MSB believes everything is in order until a transaction is reviewed and a problem is identified. By that point, funds may have already been provided to the customer.
When documentation is missing or expired, it can result in:
These situations are often avoidable with consistent file maintenance and regular internal reviews.
Corporate due diligence should be treated as an ongoing operational responsibility, not a one-time onboarding task.
Business information changes regularly. Companies may:
Without ongoing reviews, these changes can easily go unnoticed until they create a problem during transaction processing or compliance review.
Requirements vary depending on the state and type of business, but corporate due diligence files commonly include:
Many of these documents require periodic renewal or updates.
One recurring issue involves businesses failing to maintain active registration status with the Secretary of State.
In states like Florida, corporations are required to file annual reports to remain active. If those filings are missed, the business can become inactive or suspended.
During the due diligence process, Surety Bank reviews business registration status as part of transaction and compliance reviews. If a business is no longer active with the state, transactions may be delayed or unable to proceed until the issue is resolved.
Unfortunately, many MSBs do not discover the problem until after they have already provided funds to the customer.
One of the best ways to avoid these situations is by implementing consistent internal reviews of your corporate due diligence files.
It is recommended that MSBs review files at least twice a year to ensure documentation remains current and complete.
Even simple tracking methods can make a significant difference. Many businesses successfully use spreadsheets or internal checklists to monitor:
A small amount of organization upfront can help prevent larger operational and compliance issues later.
Corporate due diligence reviews are not simply administrative tasks. They are part of maintaining a strong compliance program and protecting your business from avoidable risk.
Strong documentation practices help businesses:
Most importantly, they help identify problems before they affect day-to-day operations.
Maintaining corporate due diligence files may not feel urgent until a transaction is delayed, a registration is found inactive, or documentation cannot be produced when needed.
Consistent reviews, updated records, and proactive tracking procedures help keep operations running smoothly and reduce preventable risk.
In many cases, the businesses with the fewest operational disruptions are simply the ones that stay organized and review their files consistently throughout the year.
For John Hamlin, business has always been about relationships.
As the owner of Hamlin & Associates and several affiliated companies, John has spent decades helping businesses succeed. Throughout his career, he's learned that the strongest partnerships aren't built on transactions alone. They're built on trust, responsiveness, and a genuine commitment to helping people when they need it most.
That's one of the reasons he's been banking with Surety Bank for nearly 20 years.
When John first moved to the Daytona Beach area, Surety Bank was recommended to him by a trusted contact. From his very first interactions with the team, he noticed something different.
"It reminded me more of an old-school bank that cared," John recalls. "I wasn't just an account number. They took the time to learn my name, understand my business, and get to know me."
Over the years, John has worked with other financial institutions, but those experiences only reinforced what makes Surety unique. While larger banks often offered similar products and technology, they couldn't provide the same level of personal attention.
"You can go anywhere and get online banking," he says. "Surety offers that too. The difference is they also offer the personal relationship."
For John, that relationship has meant having direct conversations when questions arise, receiving honest guidance, and knowing that decisions are made by people who understand both his business and his goals.
After nearly two decades as a customer, John says he's never felt the need to call and complain about an employee or a banking experience.
"Everybody in this bank is of service," he explains. "They're accommodating, they're friendly, and they're always willing to help. That's rare."
As Surety Bank celebrates its 100th anniversary, John believes the bank's longevity comes down to something simple: maintaining the personal touch while continuing to evolve.
"You guys can do everything the big banks do," he says. "They can't do everything you do."
For John, that's what community banking should be. Modern conveniences matter, but relationships matter more.
And after nearly 20 years, that's why Surety Bank continues to be his bank of choice.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it and it's how we will always do it!
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For many Money Services Businesses (MSBs), the independent review is viewed as another annual compliance requirement to complete, submit to the bank, and move on from until next year.
In reality, the independent review is one of the most important tools available to help identify weaknesses in your compliance program before they become larger problems.
A completed review alone is not enough.
What matters is what happens after the review is finished.
Independent testing is one of the pillars of an effective BSA/AML compliance program. Its purpose is not simply to satisfy a requirement. A quality review evaluates the strength of your compliance program, identifies weaknesses or gaps, reviews transaction monitoring procedures, and provides recommendations to improve controls and reduce risk.
A strong independent review gives MSB owners visibility into areas that may need attention before regulators or financial institutions identify them first.
One of the biggest issues we see is MSBs treating the independent review as a one-time document instead of an operational tool.
In many cases, findings are not addressed, recommendations are delayed, or the same deficiencies continue appearing year after year. This creates a pattern that signals a lack of improvement and a lack of attention to compliance responsibilities.
When the same issues continue repeating, risk increases significantly.
Repeated deficiencies can eventually lead to increased monitoring requirements, additional compliance costs, regulatory scrutiny, or even fines and penalties. In more serious situations, it can also create risk for the MSB’s banking relationship or licensing status.
In some cases, businesses may be required to undergo additional compliance monitoring by an outside third party until improvements are made.
The goal is not to create an additional burden, but instead to identify and correct issues before they become larger operational or regulatory problems.
Independent reviews frequently identify issues involving:
While some of these may seem minor individually, repeated deficiencies over time can create significant compliance concerns if they are not corrected.
No compliance program is perfect. What matters most is identifying issues, addressing them promptly, and demonstrating improvement over time.
An independent review should show progress year after year. If the same findings continue appearing without corrective action, regulators and financial institutions may view that as a lack of commitment to compliance obligations.
Although the independent review report is a bank-required document, MSBs are required to undergo independent testing because the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) requires every MSB to maintain an effective Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program, and independent testing is one of the core required elements of that program.
While FinCEN requires independent testing to be conducted periodically, Surety Bank’s policy requires independent testing to be completed every 12 months for MSB customers.
Completing reviews consistently and addressing findings in a timely manner helps maintain a stronger and more effective compliance program throughout the year.
Compliance is not built once a year during an independent testing. It is built through consistent attention to processes, documentation, monitoring, and corrective action throughout the year.
The independent testing is designed to help identify weaknesses before they create larger operational or regulatory problems. Using it properly can help protect your business, your banking relationship, and your long-term success.
For John Simmons, banking with Surety has always been about relationships.
A longtime customer of Surety Bank, John has seen firsthand what it looks like when a financial institution truly shows up for its community. As a husband of 38 years, a father of four daughters, and a Director at St. Barnabas Episcopal School, his perspective is grounded in both family and service.
When the school began to grow, a new challenge emerged. They had run out of space to fit all of the students. Expansion wasn’t just a nice-to-have, it was necessary to continue serving students and families well. Like many organizations in that position, they explored their options carefully.
Then came a call that changed everything.
The president of Surety Bank reached out directly, bringing together key stakeholders in a conversation focused on one thing: how to help. What followed was more than a transaction, it was a collaborative effort. The bank stepped in not just with financial guidance, but with a clear commitment to walk alongside the school’s leadership every step of the way.
That experience left a lasting impression on John.
In his words, Surety Bank was “there 120%,” offering direction, support, and reassurance during a critical moment. But what stood out most was how they got there.
“They treat people as people,” John explains. “They actually answer the phone. They communicate.”
In an era where many businesses prioritize efficiency over connection, that kind of responsiveness feels increasingly rare. Yet for Surety Bank, it’s part of their DNA.
John’s story is a reminder that the best banking relationships aren’t built on numbers alone. They’re built on trust, accessibility, and a genuine investment in the people they serve.
This is how Surety Bank has always done it and it’s how we will always do it!
Not all risks come from outside your business.
In many cases, the most significant issues we see develop internally through gaps in oversight, compliance, and day-to-day controls.
As we move further into the year, we want to focus on a key principle that helps prevent these issues:
Trust your team, but verify your operations.
Consider the following scenario:
An MSB owner invested in the business but was not involved in day-to-day operations. Instead, they trusted a close family member to manage the store and handle compliance responsibilities.
At first, everything appeared to be running smoothly.
Over time, however, several issues developed:
Eventually, the situation escalated.
The individual managing the business began making unauthorized financial decisions. There were compliance gaps that had gone unnoticed. Required oversight was missing. By the time the issues surfaced, the impact included:
The most important takeaway is this:
The responsibility did not fall on the person running the store. It fell on the owner.
Even if you assign:
The responsibility for compliance, licensing, and operations remains with the owner.
Regulators evaluate the licensed entity and the owner behind it, not just the individual performing the work.
A “hands-off” approach can create risk if there is no system in place to verify what is happening inside the business.
Internal issues are not always obvious.
Unlike external fraud, which is often a single event, internal breakdowns can develop gradually:
Because the business appears to be operating normally, these issues can go unnoticed until they become serious.
Oversight does not mean mistrust. It means protection.
Strong MSB operations include:
Owners do not need to manage every transaction, but they do need visibility into how the business is operating.
To reduce risk and strengthen your operation, consider:
Even small, consistent actions can help identify issues early.
Independent reviews, compliance officers, and internal staff all play important roles.
However, none of these replace owner oversight.
If any one layer fails, there should be another layer in place to identify and correct the issue.
Trust is important in any business. But in an MSB environment, trust must be supported by structure, process, and verification.
A strong system protects:
If you have questions about internal controls, compliance expectations, or how to strengthen oversight in your business, our team is available to support you.
For nearly 100 years, Surety Bank has believed a strong community is built through more than financial services. It's built through people showing up for one another. Since the bank’s early days, Surety has been committed to investing time, support and resources into the places where its customers live and work. That community-first mindset is why Surety was proud to support DeLand’s annual Night to Shine, hosted by Stetson Baptist Church.
Night to Shine is a prom for people with special needs that was created to give honored guests, known as VIPs, a night filled with joy, dignity and belonging. Organizers said this year’s event welcomed about 150 VIPs and was made possible by roughly 400 volunteers who served, cheered and helped make the night unforgettable.
Night to Shine began in 2015 through the Tim Tebow Foundation and has grown into a global initiative hosted by local churches. The foundation says Night to Shine now takes place in all 50 states and in 76 countries, with 979 host churches participating during the 2026 season. In DeLand, the event brought families, volunteers and community partners together around a simple idea: everyone deserves to be celebrated.
From the first greeting to the final song, Night to Shine is built around creating a prom experience that feels personal and uplifting. In DeLand, VIPs enjoyed a full evening of fun, including:
Each part of the evening reinforced the same message: VIPs are seen, valued and welcomed.
People with special needs and their families can too often feel overlooked, simply because many social spaces are not designed with accessibility and inclusion in mind. Night to Shine helps change that by creating an environment where belonging is intentional and celebration is the point. It’s also meaningful for caregivers, who get to watch their loved one experience a community that shows up with kindness and care.
Surety Bank is grateful to support events like Night to Shine because strong communities are built through relationships, service and shared responsibility. The turnout in DeLand reflected that spirit, with volunteers giving their time and local partners helping to make every detail count.
To the VIPs who brought the joy, the families who trusted the community with this special night, and the volunteers who made it happen, thank you. Night to Shine is one evening on the calendar, but the impact reaches much further, reminding DeLand what it looks like to celebrate every person with dignity and love.
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