THE EDCOMM GROUP’S DR. LINDA EAGLE TO SPEAK AT COMPLIANCE-RISK MEETING ADDRESSING ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE IN RENO, NV

(NEW YORK, NY) – September 9, 2006

Dr. Linda Eagle, President of The Edcomm Group, has been selected to participate as a vendor speaker at the Western States ITI User Group (WSUG) Compliance-Risk meeting to be held on September 13th in Reno, NV. Dr. Eagle will speak on elder financial abuse and what role the banking industry plays in protecting elderly customers, as well as how banks can manage their risk and ensure compliance to the law. Dr. Eagle will also discuss Edcomm’s BSA/AML Compliance training programs.

The event, to be held at the Silver Legacy, is being sponsored by the WSUG Board and will be attended by members representing state and nationally chartered community banks ranging in size from de novo to the billion-dollar asset range located in California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Arizona.

In her speech, Dr. Eagle will discuss the upsurge in elder financial abuse, the status of state and federal laws protecting seniors, and the responsibility of banks and other financial service companies to recognize and report such abuse. Says Dr. Eagle, “The Edcomm Group has been a driving force in the campaign to teach the public and bank personnel about elder financial abuse. Edcomm’s course, Focus on Elder Financial Abuse, is designed to help banks cope with the new laws targeting elder financial abuse by teaching front line staff about how to best serve their elderly customers while reducing risk to the bank. Since California is implementing a statute in January 2007 that mandates banks and financial institutions to report suspected cases of elder financial abuse, I look forward to bringing information regarding this important topic directly to the banks involved.”

With more than 5 million cases per year, financial abuse of elders is the number one crime committed against persons age 65 and older. Currently, 17 states and Washington, D.C. have passed laws that require bank personnel to report suspected cases of elder financial abuse. Another 33 states recommend it. Revision to the Elder Justice Act of 2003 is in committee and is expected to pass this year.

The Edcomm Group has been a driving force in the campaign to educate bank personnel about elder financial abuse. Edcomm's course, Focus on Elder Financial Abuse, is designed to help banks cope with the new laws targeting elder financial abuse by teaching front line staff about how to best serve their elderly customers while reducing risk to the bank.

Focus on Elder Financial Abuse is a comprehensive eLearning program providing training on issues related to elder financial abuse. The course covers: defining elder financial abuse and the laws governing it, detecting the red flags of elder financial abuse, and reporting elder financial abuse properly. Focus on Elder Financial Abuse is geared towards teaching participants how to identify elder abuse and how to protect both their customers and the bank, with accurate, compliant reporting.

Dr. Eagle said, “I will also be discussing Edcomm’s Focus on Compliance course, a computer-based, distance-learning program that can be delivered via Internet, intranet, or CD-ROM. The program teaches banking compliance using easy-to-understand language in an interactive, self-paced format. Participants learn from their own perspective, with a curriculum customized to their position. Focus on Compliance covers: Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC, Privacy, Reg P, Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, Right to Financial Privacy, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Reg CC & Check 21, Reg D, Reg E, Reg Z, Truth in Lending, FCRA, FACT Act, HMDA, CRA, and Bank Bribery, among others. The program also includes a quick reference guide to all banking regulations, as well as a glossary of terms and a library of reference materials.”

Dr. Eagle is frequently invited to speak on a range of topics including distance learning, adult education, compliance training, teller training, ethics training, technological advances in training and education, and business solutions. Her educational background in psychology and communications and her experience in organizational consulting give her unique insight into the practical application of training and communication programs. Dr. Eagle has provided consulting and training services to hundreds of organizations in a variety of industries. Published in many national publications including USA Today, American Banker, Forbes, MSNBC and the Washington Post, Dr. Eagle has also appeared on several local and national radio and television news programs.

The Edcomm Group has had the privilege of assisting many distinguished clients with business solutions in the form of eLearning programs, classroom instruction, multimedia production and online and print based documentation. In addition to the development of customized programs, The Edcomm Group offers many banking specific off-the-shelf products such as Teller Training and Compliance Training that have proven themselves effective in organizations around the world.

The Edcomm Group is a 19-year-old multimedia education and communication consulting firm specializing in the development of creative business solutions that improve productivity, customer service and market share — providing bottom-line results. The Edcomm Group (www.edcomm.com) (www.bankersacademy.com) is headquartered in New York City with an Advanced Design Center located in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

For more information, please contact:
Linda Eagle
President, The Edcomm Group
1-888-4EDCOMM
linda.eagle@edcomm.com