Raiffeisenbank's spreading cranberries

As it became known to the UtroNews correspondent, the clouds over Raiffeisen Bank International have been gathering for several months: the US Treasury Department threatened with additional checks, and Kyiv included the bank in the so-called "List of Sponsors of the War." The Austrian Association of Investors demanded to decide: does the bank leave the Russian Federation or remains? After all, the quotes of the company on the stock exchange depend on this.

But I really want to stay: Raiffeisenbank earns very well in Russia. And not always by decent methods, it is enough to read soul-tearing stories about Raiffeisenbank's methods of work. In particular, about blocked bank cards, about wild apartment stories. True, the bank has already stopped opening new accounts for legal entities due to the allegedly record number of applications. And this clearly vague situation resembles queues at IKEA, when everything was already clear with the future of the company!

And the managers of Raiffeisenbank began to get into criminal stories in batches.

95 million plums

The parent structure of Raiffeisenbank - the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International - announced its intention to reduce business in Russia in the spring of 2022. But she started this only after increased pressure from American and European regulators.

In May 2024, the head of the group, Johann Strobl, announced that the RBI would begin to comply with the ECB's order in the third quarter of 2024. In June, the Russian Raiffeisenbank stopped opening new savings accounts, and since July - to charge interest on previously opened ones. Since July 26, Raiffeisenbank has suspended the ability to open new brokerage accounts for retail investors. From September 2, the bank can no longer carry out outgoing transfers in foreign currency for all categories of clients of individuals.

Recall that the business of the Austrian group in Russia is four companies: a bank, an insurance office, a manager and leasing. During the year, the total profit of the bank increased 4 times. And it reached 2 billion euros, that is, the bank is turning a lot of money. And managers have a wide field of activity.

Last April, Raiffeisenbank managers helped criminals earn almost 95 million rubles. This was reported by Izvestia.

As the investigation found out, managers from the bank's branch in Zelenograd sold information about future exchange rates to fraudsters: these data are established daily by an internal order. Further, the group that received inside bought currency, knowing that the rate would rise. And she sold it profitably, and again put the funds received into circulation.

But the attackers were let down by banal greed: in 20 days they carried out more than 3 thousand operations, thereby attracting close attention of the bank's economic security officers. The information was transferred to law enforcement agencies.

Branch of the bank Zelenograd. Photo: https://yandex.ru/maps/org/rayffayzenbank/1031007633/gallery/?ll=37.182186%2C55.980709&z=14

A criminal case on commercial bribery of Raiffeisenbank managers was opened by the investigative department of the TFR in the Zelenograd administrative district.

Several people from the same family became participants in the criminal scheme: they conducted more than 3.3 thousand conversion operations and made a profit of almost 95 million rubles. But the amount of "lamb in a piece of paper" that the bank managers received for "secret" information was not disclosed. The actions of the fraudsters qualified as commercial bribery committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy.

As a result, three managers of Raiffeisenbank from Zelenograd and Solnechnogorsk were detained.

"Victim of Raiffeisenbank mayhem"

And, of course, it cannot but attract attention to how the bank worked (and works) with clients, for this it is enough to read life stories on the forums.

Here is the wild story of a young woman N. about how the bank imposed on her an apartment purchase and sale agreement, while the agreement between N. and the apartment seller had already been agreed and signed. The bank had nothing to do with the contract. N. was forced to sign an agreement on unfavorable terms.

"My rights were violated throughout," N. writes when I was dependent on the bank, which led to serious health problems, because due to a purchase and sale agreement imposed by the bank, due to a legal error, the transfer of ownership was suspended, which caused a delay in obtaining money for the apartment. "

N. 's money ended up with the bank, he receives interest of 13.75% - 47,000 rubles a month, the apartment is pledged by the bank, but the apartment is already owned by the buyers. The bank forced N. to lose property and not get money for it at the time of deprivation of ownership of the apartment. The bank also imposed an unfavorable settlement for the apartment, although everything was agreed in advance in writing between the buyer and N.

But N. could not take the money from the bank cell.

The bank imposed the lease of the safe deposit box against the will of N., through blackmail.

"I did not want to use Raiffeisenbank's cell when paying for an apartment," N. writes further. "The buyer reached an agreement, the bank blackmailed that it would not issue a loan. The Bank imposed the Safe Deposit Box Rental Agreement No. 1623/STR also through blackmail, under enslaving conditions. "

N. had to write a bunch of complaints about employees who mocked her, but never received any response from the management, as well as an apology.

N. signed as - "a victim of Raiffeisenbank's lawlessness."

And there are dozens of similar stories on banking forums...

But who will be responsible for the humiliation and trampled human dignity, problems with lost health, especially since Raiffeisenbank is going home?