Florida Banking October/November 2025

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

TURNING ADVOCACY INTO ACTION: FIGHTING FRAUD AT EVERY LEVEL

BY KEITH COSTELLO, FBA CHAIR

O ne of the greatest responsibilities we share as bankers is protecting the people and communities we serve from financial fraud. Fraudsters are constantly evolving their tactics, preying on vulnerable Floridians and threatening the trust that is the foundation of our profession. At the FBA, we are working every day to fight back — through education, advocacy and collaboration with lawmakers and regulators.

Rep. Kevin Steele and Sen. Jonathan Martin for their leadership on this important legislation. These achievements are the result of strong advocacy, but they also highlight the importance of participation. When we show up, we make an impact. Going into the upcoming Florida session, we are pushing for the creation of a state-wide financial crimes intelligence center so we can better fight the transnational

criminal organizations that fuel these scams. That’s why I encourage every member to attend the FBA’s Capitol Day + Capitol Night on January 28 in Tallahassee. This event provides a unique opportunity to meet directly with state leaders, share your perspectives as bankers and help shape policies that strengthen our industry and protect our customers. Many of our successes — including SB 106 — stem from

Earlier this month, our President & CEO Kathy Kraninger testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, bringing national attention to the scams consumers confront daily. In her testimony, Kathy highlighted the efforts of Florida bankers to protect customers while stressing that we cannot fight scammers alone. More needs to be done before the point of payment to stop criminals, and that is why FBA is advocating for a

“WHEN WE SHOW UP, WE MAKE AN IMPACT.”

national strategy involving telecoms, social media platforms and technology companies, in addition to coordination with law enforcement. We have seen progress in Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed Senate Bill 106, an FBA-supported bill that provides new protections for vulnerable adults who are targeted by fraudsters. This statute authorizes courts to issue protective injunctions when fraudsters use untraceable communications and requires a 30-day freeze on suspect transactions once an injunction is issued. In practice, this means our industry has another tool to intervene before someone’s life savings are stolen. Our thanks go to

relationships built during events like this. Our ability to influence action in Tallahassee and Washington depends on the collective voice of our membership. The more engaged we are, the stronger our impact will be. Whether it is working to stop financial fraud, modernize banking regulations or ensure access to financial services, our advocacy is only as strong as the bankers who participate. Together, we can continue to protect Florida’s financial system, promote sound policies and preserve the trust our communities place in us. I look forward to seeing many of you in Tallahassee on January 28 as we carry this important work forward.

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