Attorney General honors Elaine Dodd for consumer advocacy work

Elaine Dodd, vice president – fraud at the Oklahoma Bankers Association, was honored on Feb. 21 by the Attorney General's Office with the 2013 Brad Edwards Consumer Champion Award for her work on behalf of Oklahoma seniors and defrauded customers.

“I'm really honored to get the Brad Edwards award,” Dodd said. “It's for everyone who helps our customers. Every single day our bankers are pulling somebody out of fraud and we're able to keep them from losing their money.”

Dodd works with community banks to train their employees as well as other professionals on how to recognize fraud. She travels Oklahoma to speak with community members on how to avoid scams. Dodd persistently tries to prevent seniors, bankers and customers from becoming victims of fraud and to minimize the damage. In 2012, she spoke at the White House Symposium on Elder Abuse.

“This award is an outstanding honor, not just for Elaine but for all Oklahoma bankers,” said Roger Beverage, OBA president and CEO. “Elaine works closely with all of our banks and many of their customers to continuously protect Oklahomans. She is awesome, she's an industry leader – not just in Oklahoma but across the country. We are fortunate to have her as our advocate.”

The Brad Edwards Consumer Champion Award is given each year to a deserving Oklahoman in honor of Brad Edwards, a consumer advocate in Oklahoma City for 25 years and host of KFOR-TV's “In Yor Corner” segment.

The winner is chosen based on exemplary and voluntary consumer service by initiating consumer advocacy programs, actively participating in such activities or taking significant action that protects or benefits Oklahoma consumers. The annual award announcement is held in conjunction with Oklahoma Consumer Protection Day at the State Capitol.

The OBA conducts more than 70 educational programs and seminars each year, which reach more than 5,000 bankers across the state. The Association represents approximately 230 banks across the state and serves as the primary advocate for the banking industry. It's also heavily involved in fraud training and prevention as well as legal and compliance services and communications for its member banks.