Bob Hartheimer, CEO of Tennessee’s Evolve Financial institution & Belief, was fired after U.S. legislation enforcement officers caught him propositioning a legislation enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old boy on homosexual courting app Grindr.
On Oct. 19, an worker of the Federal Bureau of Investigation logged onto Grindr whereas pretending to be a teen boy, and a person referred to as “Tomm” wrote a message to that individual saying, “Hey any probability u would hu with an older and chill man,” in line with an affidavit from a particular agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that was unsealed on Tuesday.
The 2 mentioned getting collectively in individual later within the week, in line with the affidavit. On Snapchat, they talked concerning the intercourse acts they could carry out. “Tomm” requested for a photograph of the “boy” with out shorts on, and he additionally despatched the spy an image of himself bare. The FBI was in a position to get hold of an IP handle for “Tomm” from Snapchat, in addition to an handle from Comcast, the affidavit confirmed.
Hartheimer was arrested in Memphis on Oct. 23 for tried manufacturing of kid pornography and switch of obscene materials to a minor, in line with a warrant.
An Evolve spokesperson and Blake Ballin, a lawyer representing Hartheimer, informed CNBC on Saturday that Evolve has fired the CEO.
“Bob’s household is conscious of the fees,” Ballin wrote in an e-mail. “His household loves and helps him and requests privateness throughout this troublesome interval of their lives. We have now no additional remark presently.”
The Wall Road Journal reported on Hartheimer’s firing from Evolve Financial institution on Friday.
Evolve mentioned its finance chief, Mark Mosteller, and its common counsel, Joelle Weltzin, might be accountable for the financial institution’s operations, as they had been earlier than the financial institution employed Hartheimer in August.
“We’re in shut contact with the U.S. Lawyer’s workplace and have been assured that it is a private matter and doesn’t relate to the Financial institution or its operations in any method,” the spokesperson wrote in an e-mail.
Final 12 months, Evolve was caught up within the chapter of monetary expertise startup Synapse, which reduce off entry to a system for dealing with transactions and account particulars. Fintech apps comparable to Yotta labored with Evolve and different banks, with Synapse performing as a intermediary.
Synapse’s methodology of retaining app customers’ cash in numerous banks, together with Evolve, created accounting issues, and as much as $96 million in deposits went lacking. Hundreds of Individuals misplaced cash, CNBC reported.
In 2024, Evolve additionally suffered a cyberattack, throughout which hackers obtained buyer info and demanded a ransom. The financial institution mentioned it didn’t pay any ransom and the information was ultimately posted on-line.
“This can be a structural change, demonstrating our continued dedication to doing the arduous work to earn again the belief of our prospects, staff, regulators, and traders,” Evolve mentioned in an August assertion saying the collection of Hartheimer to interchange CEO Scott Stafford, who retired after becoming a member of in 2004.
The financial institution touted Hartheimer’s expertise as director of the Federal Deposit Insurance coverage Company’s Division of Resolutions, in addition to his years as a regulatory marketing consultant for fintech firms.
“Over the previous 4 many years, I’ve led, rotated, and suggested establishments throughout the monetary panorama,” Hartheimer wrote on his LinkedIn profile.
The 100-year-old financial institution reported internet losses for every of the primary three quarters of 2025 after being worthwhile since 2003, in line with information on file with the Federal Monetary Establishments Examination Council.
— CNBC’s Dan Mangan and Hugh Son contributed reporting.
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