Ethics Scenario #34: Harristown Family and Children's Service

34. Nevin, a bank vice president, is the newly elected Treasurer of the Harristown Family and Children’s Service, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt organization. The total cash assets of the Service have never exceeded $100,000 at one time, not very much in Nevin’s world of dealing with accounts, often worth millions of dollars. However, he feels embarrassed that the checking accounts of the Service are with a local competitor’s bank. At the next board meeting, he offers a motion that the Service’s checking and savings accounts be moved to his bank as soon as possible.

a. Is Nevin acting ethically by offering this motion?

b. Is Nevin acting legally by offering this motion and participating in the discussion?