The Canadian Bankers Association is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrests of three suspects involved in three violent armed bank robberies in recent weeks.

"In each of these cases, firearms are openly brandished and used as weapons to strike the tellers," Insp. Bruce Crawford of the Toronto Police Service told a news conference on Monday.

Police released still images of the three taken from security camera video.

The suspects, wearing masks, enter banks with guns drawn. Two take control of the bank and orders staff and customers onto the floor. The third does lookout duty.

One usually pistol-whips a bank employee, causing injuries. They strip the cash drawers, demand the safe to be opened and then flee in a getaway vehicle.

Police fear someone will be seriously hurt, if not killed, if the robberies continue. Crawford said while it's bad enough to be struck by a handgun, "we know there may be an accidental discharge of that handgun."

In all three cases, the tellers required stitches to close the wounds caused by the beatings.

William Crate, director of security for the Canadian Bankers Association, said "In this case, these individuals have already shown us they are capable of violence, and it is our hope that this reward of $10,000 will lead to their arrest."

People with information are asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

With a report from CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin