Banking on trust
Speaker spotlight · Community & financial awareness
John Kroll brought a practical conversation to Xemplar about supporting local businesses, recognizing scams, and building relationships beyond the bank branch.
For John Kroll, the most useful part of a banking conversation starts with listening. At Xemplar’s September 30 meeting, the Fifth Third Bank financial center manager introduced his work in Farmington Hills, then opened the floor to members’ questions.
The discussion moved from support for local businesses to a concern that touched much of the room: how to recognize financial scams. Throughout the visit, Kroll returned to the importance of knowing the people you serve and making it easy for them to ask for help.
Support beyond the branch
Kroll described working with business owners on everyday concerns such as cash flow, fees, and the financial needs of their employees. He also discussed visiting workplaces to help employees with banking access and offering educational sessions in the community.
Those sessions can cover topics such as building credit, preparing for a first home, and protecting personal information. His aim, he explained, is to make those conversations accessible and useful to the people taking part.
He also introduced Fifth Third’s mobile financial-education outreach. The bank’s Financial Empowerment Mobile, known as the eBus, brings banking conversations and resources into communities.
A pause can prevent a costly mistake
Members’ questions turned the discussion toward fraud. Kroll described refund scams in which an unexpected message leads to a request for remote computer access, followed by a claim that too much money was refunded and must be sent back.
He also discussed fraudulent business purchases and wire transfers. Before sending money for an unfamiliar purchase, he encouraged business owners to take another step to verify who they are dealing with, including contacting the company independently.
For readers who want a practical follow-up, the Federal Trade Commission’s guide to tech-support scams explains the same refund pattern and how to check a suspicious message using contact information you know is genuine.
Make room for one more question before acting on an unfamiliar request. A conversation with a trusted person can be worth the extra time.
Different people, different needs
Questions about checking and savings accounts prompted Kroll to emphasize that people have different spending habits, bill schedules, and financial circumstances. He approached the discussion from his experience with everyday banking and security, while distinguishing that work from financial planning and tax advice.
The exchange reflected the format he said he values in his work: a conversation shaped by the person in front of him. Members brought their own questions, and the discussion followed their interests.
Showing up for the community
Kroll also shared a more hands-on example of service: joining colleagues at a Detroit community garden to help prepare soil and plant seeds. He spoke about his enthusiasm for volunteering and for getting involved with the Farmington-area business community.
For a club built around giving back, that connection was familiar. His visit was a reminder that local relationships grow through everyday acts of service, whether that means helping a neighbor understand a problem, supporting a business, or spending time on a community project.
