Closing of ABLV and other high-profile cases in the banking world and their impact on the banking sector

The international law firm Antwort Law provides a wide range of services in the field of banking consulting and always monitors changes in the global banking industry. In this article we will talk about a high-profile event in recent years - the closure of ABLV Bank, as well as consider other important cases and discuss their impact on the banking sector.

ABLV Bank, founded in 1993 in Latvia, has long been considered one of the largest private banks in the country, but in 2018 it faced serious problems that led to its closure, namely:

1. Money Laundering Charges: In February 2018, the US Treasury Department accused ABLV of systematically laundering money and engaging in illegal financial schemes that damaged the bank's reputation and resulted in significant capital outflows.
2. European Central Bank Decision: Shortly after the allegations, the European Central Bank (ECB) ruled that ABLV Bank was “in the process of collapse or probable collapse,” leading to the start of the bank's liquidation process.
3. Lack of Liquidity: The massive outflow of customer deposits and assets in response to allegations and regulatory actions created liquidity problems that made the bank's further operations impossible.

The closure of ABLV, the third largest bank in Latvia by assets, was a significant event for our clients. Many companies and individuals whose assets and deposits were held by the bank faced uncertainty and financial loss. Antwort Law has successfully helped its clients recover some of their lost funds and adapt to new conditions. We worked with regulators and international organizations to ensure transparency and fairness in the liquidation process.

The closure of ABLV is not the only case that has attracted the attention of the public and regulators. Let's look at a few other significant cases:

1. Wirecard: A German fintech company that went bankrupt in 2020 after a €1.9 billion accounting fraud was discovered, prompting widespread investigations and arrests of company executives.
2. Danske Bank: Denmark's largest bank is at the center of a scandal after the discovery of more than 200 billion euros in money laundering through its Estonian unit between 2007 and 2015, which led to the resignations of top executives and the introduction of new regulatory measures.
3. Wells Fargo: The American bank was involved in a scandal involving the opening of millions of fake accounts without the knowledge of customers, followed by large fines and a change in the bank's corporate culture.

These and other banking failures and scandals have had a significant impact on the entire financial sector and have led to increased scrutiny and new regulatory measures in many countries:

- regulators have become more vigilant and have introduced additional requirements for compliance and AML (Anti-Money Laundering);

- Transparency of financial transactions has increased, and banks have been forced to implement stricter verification and reporting procedures to avoid such situations. The Wirecard scandal led Germany to reform its financial supervision system and tighten audit and corporate governance requirements;

- banks began to invest more in improving their reputation and introducing new technologies to ensure the security and protection of customer data to restore customer trust.

Current trends in banking regulation show increased scrutiny of financial institutions, especially in the areas of compliance and AML. We expect these trends to continue to evolve as regulators increase their demands for transparency and accountability of banks.

Thus, responding to the challenges posed by the global banking industry requires a deep understanding of regulatory changes and the ability to adapt to them. Antwort Law has extensive experience in providing banking consulting advice, which allows our clients to effectively deal with crises and minimize risks. We are ready to help you minimize risks and ensure the stable operation of your business in a changing financial landscape. Contact us for professional help and advice.

Lidia Ivanova

International lawyer
Antwort Law