HSBC zahlt 4,2 Millionen US-Dollar Strafe: Hongkongs Aufseher rügen Offenlegungsverstöße

Hongkongs Finanzaufsicht trifft einen Giganten: HSBC muss 4,2 Millionen US-Dollar Strafe zahlen – ein klarer Fall von regulatorischem Versagen.

Die Aufsichtsbehörde rügt schwerwiegende Verstöße gegen Offenlegungspflichten. Die fehlende Transparenz untergräbt das Vertrauen der Anleger und zeigt systemische Schwächen auf.

Während traditionelle Banken mit Compliance-Problemen kämpfen, setzen dezentrale Finanzprotokolle auf unveränderbare Transparenz – eine ironische Wendung für einen etablierten Player.

Die Strafe von 4,2 Millionen US-Dollar wirkt wie ein Klaps auf die Hand für eine Bank dieser Größe, aber die symbolische Wirkung ist unübersehbar.

HSBC’s Swiss unit is removing wealthy clients in the Middle East

The Financial Times recently reported that the bank’s Swiss unit has begun removing over 1,000 wealthy clients from the Middle East. 

People familiar with the MOVE said the bank plans to end relationships with customers from countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Lebanon. Many of those clients hold more than $100 million in assets. 

The Swiss unit has told affected customers they won’t get to use the services, and letters suggesting they move accounts are due to go out soon, one person said. Bloomberg News first reported the changes.

HSBC continues to face scrutiny

The revamp follows actions by Switzerland’s financial regulator, Finma, over the bank’s handling of higher-risk customers. Last year, HSBC’s Swiss unit was disallowed from bringing in public figures due to new clients being found of money-laundering breaches. 

The regulator concluded the bank had not carried out adequate due diligence on several transactions between 2002 – 2015, moving $300 million between Switzerland and Lebanon.

In its findings, the watchdog said HSBC had “failed to recognise the indications of money laundering presented by these transactions; it likewise failed to satisfy requirements for the initiation and continuation of customer relationships with politically exposed persons, and was thus in serious breach of its due diligence obligations.”

Finma ordered HSBC to conduct an anti-money-laundering review covering all high-risk relationships with politically exposed persons (PEPs). The bank, Finma said, cannot start new PEP relationships until the review is completed.

HSBC’s internal rules classify clients with more than SFr100 million ($124.7 million) as “high risk,” a label that triggers enhanced checks. The bank also factors in other elements, such as nationality, when assigning risk ratings to customers.

In a separate disclosure last month, HSBC said authorities in France and Switzerland are investigating the bank “in connection with alleged money laundering offences in respect of two historical banking relationships.”

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