Banker feared exploitation of elderly woman

During a 27-year banking career, a Portsmouth bank executive only once called state officials to report a possible case of financial exploitation. The person she thought might be "taking advantage of" an elderly and wealthy bank customer was Portsmouth police Sgt. Aaron Goodwin.

That testimony was offered by a senior executive for a downtown Portsmouth bank during a sworn deposition on Feb. 11 in the Shaines and McEachern law office. The deposition was taken as part of a dispute over the last will and trust for the late Geraldine Webber, who changed her estate plans shortly before her December 2012 death, so Goodwin would inherit her riverfront home, stocks, bonds and Cadillac.

Multiple parties are alleging Goodwin exerted undue influence over Webber, who had been diagnosed with dementia.

During her deposition last month, the Portsmouth banker said she and another bank employee phoned the New Hampshire Bureau of Elderly & Adult Services because they were "concerned" about possible "financial abuse" of Webber by Goodwin. The banker said Webber had a checking account, savings account, certificates of deposit worth about $350,000 and a safe deposit box with unknown contents.

Webber's "financial capacity" had diminished, said the banker, who explained that Webber had lost the keys to her safe deposit box, forgot to cash checks, lost checks and was carrying large amounts of cash.

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Banker feared exploitation of elderly woman