Thousands wait for cash as Andorran money laundering probe deepens
- 9 years ago
Money laundering claims against the Andorran lender Banca Privada d’Andorra has sparked a rush at its cash machines.
State-appointed managers have limited withdrawals in an attempt to contain the damage from U.S. allegations the bank cleaned money for international criminal gangs.
But many of those who’ve been waiting in line just want to get their hands on what is theirs
“Yes, I’m afraid, because the money I need till the end of the month is in that account, and I’m afraid, and they haven’t informed us, they haven’t called us, nothing at all,” said one woman.
Sentiments shared by another of the bank’s clients who said: “We went to do our shopping and the credit card wasn’t working.”
The scandal – which has also spread to neighbouring Spain, where BPA’s Spanish unit Banco Madrid filed for bankruptcy on Monday – is a blow for the mountainous principality, which relies heavily on financial services.
One Spanish saver said he could not now touch his life savings of 740,000
State-appointed managers have limited withdrawals in an attempt to contain the damage from U.S. allegations the bank cleaned money for international criminal gangs.
But many of those who’ve been waiting in line just want to get their hands on what is theirs
“Yes, I’m afraid, because the money I need till the end of the month is in that account, and I’m afraid, and they haven’t informed us, they haven’t called us, nothing at all,” said one woman.
Sentiments shared by another of the bank’s clients who said: “We went to do our shopping and the credit card wasn’t working.”
The scandal – which has also spread to neighbouring Spain, where BPA’s Spanish unit Banco Madrid filed for bankruptcy on Monday – is a blow for the mountainous principality, which relies heavily on financial services.
One Spanish saver said he could not now touch his life savings of 740,000