In response to the increasing threat of identity theft, Great Oaks Bank is organizing a free Community Shred Day at its Richmond Hill office, located at 42 Town Centre Drive, on Thursday, April 18, from 9-11 am.

Individuals are encouraged to securely dispose of sensitive documents such as old tax returns, bank statements, and canceled checks.

Jon Seagraves, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer, expressed the bank's commitment to aiding customers and communities in protecting against identity theft. He emphasized that participation is open to the public, regardless of banking affiliation. “We are delighted to assist our customers and communities in safeguarding their identities. Whether or not you're a customer of the bank, we encourage everyone to responsibly dispose of sensitive documents and remain vigilant in protecting their identity,” Seagraves added.

Great Oaks Bank has partnered with UltraShed Technologies. All documents will be shredded on-site on April 18 and all paper will be recycled. The public is invited to bring up to five boxes of personal documents to shred free of charge. Business documents and “eWaste,” such as unwanted computers, laptops, cell phones, and fax machines cannot be accepted.