KBA, state offices ramp up fraud-prevention outreach with PSAs and 'family code word' campaign

Kelly Van Zwolle of the Kansas Bankers Association told the committee the association is working with the Office of the State Bank Commissioner, the attorney general and the state treasurer on fraud-prevention measures, including proposed legislation to protect consumers at crypto ATMs, a trusted-contact reporting mechanism with credit unions, and widespread public outreach.

Van Zwolle described two PSAs developed with the state treasurer that have aired on television and drive home basic scam-prevention messages: never give account numbers or passwords over the phone and set a family code word so relatives can verify urgent calls. The committee played a brief PSA excerpt in the meeting: a narrator said, "If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be your bank and asking for confidential information, the safest thing you can do is hang up. Remember, banks never ask that."

The KBA also said it has educational events, podcasts and lunch-and-learn sessions with partners including the attorney general's office. Committee members applauded the collaboration and asked the association to continue consumer-facing outreach and coordinate with regulators on any proposed statutory changes.

The committee did not vote on any fraud-related bills during the meeting; presenters said they will return with proposed draft language when available.