B-N Bank Officer Honored By FBI - Check & Loan Fraud

B-N bank officer honored by FBI By Chris Lusvardi clusvardi@lee.net SPRINGFIELD - Federal law enforcement officials this week honored a Bloomington man who is on the front line in the fight against consumer fraud. Terry Sprague, regional security officer for National City Bank, is protecting consumers by investigating all types of fraud, including loan and check fraud. "The technology now with computers makes it easier to reach people and, because of that, people who commit crimes find it easier to contact people and scam them and take advantage of them," said Sprague, who was given an award at FBI Headquarters in Springfield. Sprague, who has worked 36 years for National City Bank, has assisted in setting up bank fraud groups in Bloomington, Decatur, Rock Island, Peoria and Champaign. He also does work in St. Louis. He received The Director's Community Leadership Award, given to people who have made an outstanding contribution within the community toward crime prevention and community awareness, said Janice Fields, an FBI assistant special agent-in-charge. Sprague initiated the Central Illinois Fraud Group in 1997. The group of representatives from several Central Illinois banks meets on a regular basis to share information and conduct training. "In Decatur, I started working with law enforcement and they were very receptive and helpful of getting names of people who work at other banks and financial institutions," Sprague said. "When you share information like this, when you make other people aware of situations that are out there, it helps with fraud prevention. "Sprague stresses that people be careful with their personal information. "Try to be aware and not give out any personal information to people who they do not personally know or do not know what the information is going to be used for," he said. "Identity theft and these kinds of protections, until it happens to somebody they know, they really don't understand what it's all about."