Bank orders internal review in Illinois

A Jersey State Bank officer said Monday that the bank has placed an employee on administrative leave and has ordered an internal review.




"In response to the findings of our regular audit procedures, Jersey State Bank officials have begun an internal review and put an employee on administrative leave," Jersey State Bank President Larry Anderson said in a media statement sent Monday to the Telegraph. "Because this review is ongoing, we cannot provide additional details at this time."



The media statement was in response to a Telegraph call to Anderson regarding reports that the Jersey State Bank had an employee escorted from the facility last Thursday by federal agents for alleged embezzlement. People calling The Telegraph gave the name of the employee allegedly involved, but because no charges have been filed, the newspaper will not release it.



Anderson returned The Telegraph’s phone message late Monday and said the media statement he was preparing would have to suffice for now, and that he could not comment further.



"We do want to reassure Jersey State Bank customers that no individual or business accounts have been compromised, and our capitalization is secure," he said. "We are taking this issue extremely seriously and will be cooperating fully with all authorities in this review."



As of Monday morning, Jersey County State’s Attorney Ben Goetten said while he had heard the same rumors over the weekend, he had not been notified officially by the bank or the U.S. Attorney’s Office in East St. Louis about any local investigation.



Catherine Rodick, press spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois in East St. Louis, said when contacted Monday that she would relay The Telegraph’s questions to the appropriate officer. As of Monday night, no return call had been received.