Blue Ridge Mayor Responds After City Bank Information Posted Online

Blue Ridge, Ga. — The City of Blue Ridge has taken sweeping financial security measures after a screenshot showing details of the city’s bank accounts was shared publicly on social media, according to a statement from Mayor Rhonda Haight.

The image reportedly revealed the nicknames of 14 city checking accounts and the last four digits of each account number. While full numbers were not displayed, Haight said the exposure posed a potential risk to the city’s financial security and taxpayer funds.

In response, Mayor Haight said she ordered all affected accounts to be closed and reopened under tighter security protocols. “This proactive step was not directed by the bank—it was a deliberate action taken to ensure that no opportunity existed for misuse of public funds,” Haight said.

The process required extensive coordination, including ordering new checks, updating accounting systems, and notifying vendors and payroll services. The transition came during a payroll week, adding to the challenge, but city staff “worked diligently to protect City operations and maintain continuity of service,” the mayor noted.

Haight said early information suggests that an elected official was responsible for posting the screenshot. While she affirmed that account balances are public information, she emphasized that such details must be shared “properly and securely to safeguard sensitive financial data.”

The disclosure came at a particularly sensitive time. According to Haight, the city was also targeted by an attempted wire fraud scheme around the same period. “We were aware that City financial activity was being monitored by bad actors, which made the exposure of banking details especially concerning,” she said.

Haight has called for a full investigation into the incident, stating that the situation underscores the need for vigilance and cybersecurity awareness in local government.

“The protection of taxpayer dollars must always come before politics or personal agendas,” she said. “The City of Blue Ridge remains steadfast in our commitment to transparency, accountability, and the security of public resources.”