Ex-banker charged with looting elderly customers' accounts

A former suburban banker is facing a 30-count criminal indictment alleging she pilfered more than $100,000 from elderly customers who rarely checked their statements because they trusted her.

Amy R. Esposito, 41, of Wheaton, remained in DuPage County jail Friday on a $500,000 bond. She is a former operations officer/senior personal banker for Community Bank - Wheaton/Glen Ellyn.

Prosecutor Helen Kapas-Erdman said Esposito looted the accounts of at least seven customers for more than four years until her July termination. She said an internal bank investigation and audit began when a customer's son spotted irregularities in his father's account.

"(Esposito) knew they trusted her and that they did not check their monthly statements," said Kapas-Erdman, head of the office's public integrity/financial crimes unit.

She said Esposito spent the stolen money mostly to pay her own credit card and other personal bills, including for her two sons' orthodontia.

Esposito began working for the bank in 1999 and was assigned to the Glen Ellyn location on Roosevelt Road.

Her attorney, Michelle Moore, said Esposito immediately cooperated with the investigation. She said the defendant's "substantial" 401K account likely will be used for restitution. Moore is investigating possible mental health and financial hardships that may shed light on the allegations.

"She has never been involved with the criminal justice system before," Moore said. "She and her husband have long-standing ties to the community. It's a tragic situation whenever this happens but, thankfully, everyone has been compensated.

"No one was physically hurt and, ideally, they will recover and go on but she's going to have to deal with long-term consequences for the rest of her life."

Scott Hamer, Community Bank's president and CEO, confirmed in a written statement the affected customers were promptly notified and reimbursed. Prosecutors lauded bank officials for their handling of the situation.

"Fortunately, it was relatively isolated and only a handful of clients were involved," Hamer said in the statement. "We regret that this incident occurred and we are confident that we have taken the appropriate action."

He continued: "We personally met with all of the clients to explain what happened. We rectified their losses including any unpaid interest."

A DuPage County grant jury indicted Esposito Tuesday on 30 felony counts alleging various financial crimes. Glen Ellyn police arrested her Thursday at her home on the 600 block of Aurora Way in Wheaton.

Judge Jane Mitton set bond Friday. Esposito must post 10 percent to be set free. She is due to appear in court April 15 before Judge Perry Thompson.