An Arkansas bank worker claimed to have only been ‘borrowing’ money from customers after she allegedly transferred more than $240,000 into her own account.
Heather Pankey, 45, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly stealing over $241,900 from her former job at First National Bank of Commerce in Pocahontas.
‘I borrowed money from a couple of customers that I knew wouldn’t need the money at the time,’ Pankey said in a statement, the affidavit stated.
Pankey’s alleged theft from multiple customer accounts was initially discovered when a transaction was initiated on the account of a customer who had passed away, according to court documents.
‘This transaction had been entered into from another employee’s computer using that user’s credentials,’ the affidavit said.
The other employee was then questioned on the matter but had no knowledge of the transactions.
An investigation led to the discovery that Pankey had allegedly accessed customer accounts and initiated fund transfers into a joint account she shared with her grandmother.
Funds were also allegedly drawn from at least eight other customer accounts to a total of more than $241,900.
Heather Pankey, 45, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly stealing over $241,900 from her former job at First National Bank of Commerce in Pocahontas
Pankey has been charged with theft of property, forgery, financial identity fraud and computer fraud. She was booked into the Randolph County Detention Center on Wednesday morning
‘I borrowed money from a couple of customers that I knew wouldn’t need the money at the time,’ Pankey said in a statement, the affidavit stated
‘The movement of these funds was part of a pattern of behavior in which Heather transferred money from one customer’s account to another to conceal prior unauthorized withdrawals,’ the affidavit stated.
Pankey has been charged with theft of property, forgery, financial identity fraud and computer fraud.
She was booked into the Randolph County Detention Center on Wednesday morning.
