S. Korea plans spot checks on HSBC, StanChart
HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank headquarters are seen at Hong Kong’s financial Central district in this file photo of October 14, 2008. South Korea’s financial regulator will carry out checks on the local operations of Standard Chartered and HSBC Holdings over money laundering allegations against the lenders in other countries. – Reuters picSEOUL, Aug 9 – South Korea’s financial regulator will carry out spot checks this month on the local operations of Standard Chartered and HSBC Holdings over money laundering allegations against the lenders in other countries.
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said in a statement today it would conduct the local checks after allegations were made against the two British banks in the United States and Mexico. It did not specify when the checks would take place, though an FSS official said they were likely later this month.
The regulator noted that HSBC’s Mexican unit was fined last month after failing to report suspicious financial transactions related to the drugs trade, and the bank’s US unit is reportedly under investigation over money laundering allegations. The FSS also noted Standard Chartered’s New York branch is being investigated over deals tied to Iran.
The FSS official, who declined to be named, said the regulator would likely conduct the checks late this month after reviewing documents to see whether the banks’ Korean units had been involved in similar activities.
“The inspection will focus on whether these banks have reported (to regulators) any dubious transactions including those with countries subject to financial transaction sanctions and whether they took their responsibility of checking customers (identification),” the FSS statement said.
A spokesperson for Standard Chartered said the bank’s Korean operations were not involved in the alleged activities. Chung Chi-hyang, spokeswoman for HSBC’s Korean unit, said the bank would “provide all the information FSS is requesting on a timely basis and give any other support they need.”
Elsewhere in Asia, the Reserve Bank of India said it doesn’t comment on issues involving individual banks – both HSBC and Standard Chartered have big offshore centres in India providing global support operations – and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) said it was “not able to discuss any entities that we regulate.”
Standard Chartered shares listed in Hong Kong rose 3.7 per cent today, while HSBC gained 1.4 per cent. – Reuters
