HeritageBank hosting Shred-A-Thon Saturday

ALBANY — Have some sensitive financial documents laying around the house you need to get rid of safely? If so, HeritageBank of the South is hosting its eighth annual Shred-A-Thon Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon.

The free community service will be available in the bank’s main office parking lot at 721 N. Westover Blvd. A list of shredable documents is available on the bank’s website www.eheritagebank.com.

“Our goal is to not only educate our community on the dangers of identify theft, but also provide a place residents can dispose of their confidential documents safely,” said Heather Nichols, the bank’s marketing manager. “The community has embraced the annual Shred-A-Thon and we’ve shred more than 40 tons of personal and confidential documents since our first event.”

Last year, Nichols said, 12.7 million Americans became victims of identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission’s No. 1 complaint among consumers and businesses. Georgia ranked second in the nation for the number of reported identify theft cases.

Three shred trucks were filled at the Albany event last year. Due to the response, participants are asked to limit items to two boxes per individual.

HeritageBank of the South also has shredding events scheduled this year in other markets it serves including North Alabama, East Georgia Central Florida and South Georgia.