Ex-Synovus employee banned from banking industry after misappropriating money
A federal order has banned a former Synovus Bank employee from working in the banking industry.
Julio A. Gonzalez, who worked for Columbus-based Synovus from Aug. 7, 2023, until he was fired Jan. 16, 2024, misappropriated more than $38,000 from the accounts of three Synovus customers, according to the order issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and signed by Gonzalez, effective Dec. 3.
The misappropriation, from Dec. 21, 2023, through Jan. 10, 2024, included forging signatures on documents for his benefit, the order says.
A criminal complaint charging Gonzalez with multiple crimes related to this misconduct, including fraud and grand theft, was filed in Florida State Court on Jan. 17, 2024. Gonzalez completed a pretrial diversion program, and the criminal case was closed, according to the federal order.
The order doesn’t note where in Florida that case was filed, so the Ledger-Enquirer couldn’t independently confirm the criminal case.
“Gonzalez has at least partially repaid the Bank for its losses stemming from this misconduct,” the order says.
Nonetheless, the order continues, “Gonzalez’s conduct constituted violations of law or regulation, unsafe or unsound banking practices, and breaches of fiduciary duty, and involved his personal dishonesty and his willful and continuing disregard for the safety and soundness of the Bank.”
As a result, the board has prohibited Gonzalez from participating in any manner in the conduct of the affairs of any insured depository institution or such holding company or such subsidiary.
“Any violation of this Order shall separately subject Gonzalez to appropriate civil or criminal penalties,” the order says. “. . . Each provision of this Order shall remain fully effective and enforceable until expressly stayed, modified, terminated, or suspended in writing by the Board of Governors,” the order says.”
The L-E asked Synovus external communications director Audria Belton for the company’s response to the order.
“Protecting our clients and maintaining their confidence is our top priority,” she said in an email. “At this time, we do not have information to share beyond what is publicly available.”
This story was originally published December 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
