Security for Banks, Credit Unions and Check Cashers
Lobby posts, ATM checks, and armed coverage for branches and check cashing locations.
Financial institutions remain a steady target. The FBI's 2023 bank crime report counted 1,362 robberies, burglaries, and larcenies nationwide, and California accounted for 204 of them, 192 of which were robberies. Most bank robberies use a demand note, but firearms were used in 230 incidents, and guards were on duty in only about 11 percent. Friday and early afternoon were the busiest times.
Risk now extends past the lobby: California police have warned about bank jugging, where criminals watch for customers leaving with cash and follow them. In 2026, two men were arrested after a customer was followed two miles from a Thousand Oaks bank and $14,000 was taken from the car. Check cashing and payday locations face similar cash exposure with fewer layers. A visible officer, tight opening and closing routines, and eyes on the parking lot address the full picture.
What we protect against
- Note job and armed robberies at teller lines, concentrated on Fridays and early afternoons
- Bank jugging and follow home robberies of customers leaving with cash
- Ambush during opening and closing or cash deliveries
- Loitering, panhandling, and assaults at ATMs
- Overnight burglary and ATM attacks
- Disturbances by upset customers at check cashing counters
What we provide
- Uniformed lobby posts focused on greeting, observation, and deterrence
- Armed opening and closing coverage with perimeter checks before staff enter
- Parking lot and ATM area patrols to spot surveillance of customers
- Overnight mobile patrol of ATMs, vestibules, and night drops
- Robbery response procedures aligned with your security program
- Incident reports and suspect descriptions for law enforcement
- Armed escort support for cash movement where contractually allowed
Rules and requirements
- Under the Bank Protection Act rules (for example 12 CFR 208.61 for Federal Reserve member banks), a bank's board must designate a security officer, who must maintain a written security program that includes opening and closing procedures and employee training on conduct during and after a robbery, and report on the program to the board at least annually.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements for your license and location.
Example program with more than one officer
Example for a branch: one unarmed lobby officer during all open hours greeting customers and watching the parking lot. An armed officer added on Fridays and the first business days of the month from 10 a.m. to close, and for 20 minutes before opening and after closing. Mobile patrol checks the ATM vestibule and lot two to three times nightly. Check cashing stores in higher crime areas should flip this and run the armed post full time.
Questions we get
Should a bank guard be armed?
It depends on cash exposure, location, and history. Many branches run unarmed lobby officers with armed coverage at opening, closing, and peak days. High risk locations and check cashers often justify full time armed coverage.
What is bank jugging and can security help?
It is when criminals watch a branch and follow customers who leave with cash. Officers watching the parking lot and reporting suspicious vehicles help deter it and give police useful leads.
What does your officer do during a robbery?
Follow your robbery procedures: avoid escalation, protect people, observe, and call police. Afterward they help secure the scene and write a detailed report. Licensed security guards do not have police powers. Off duty sworn officers, when a client hires them, remain California peace officers under Penal Code 830.1, with authority limited to what that section allows.
Which officers fit
Most sites need one officer type. Larger sites and events sometimes use more than one.
Unarmed guards
Common
Fits lower risk branches as a lobby greeter and deterrent, and ATM and parking lot checks where the goal is visibility and reporting.
Armed guards
Primary
Fits branches and check cashers with high cash volume, prior robberies, late hours, or high crime surroundings, especially for opening and closing.
Off duty police officers
Common
Fits branches recovering from a robbery, peak Friday shifts, and institutions that want an officer who can brief staff and work directly with investigators.
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Where we cover banks and credit unions
Not sure what you need? Call or text (909) 927-7001 and talk to the owner directly, or send us a few details.