Natives of high-risk countries excluded from financial services. Letter to the Inspector General of Financial Information (GIFI)
Date:
The Commissioner for Human Rights receives complaints questioning the practices of financial institutions towards customers who were born outside the European Union. In their opinion, such actions are discriminatory. They point out that they have been living in Poland for many years, hold identity documents (ID card, passport), have been assigned a PESEL number and pay taxes. Despite this, financial institutions deny them access to their products solely on the basis of their place of birth, in countries considered by banks to be third countries with a high risk of money laundering and terrorist financing, such as i.a. Afghanistan, Barbados, Egypt, Iran, Belarus and Ukraine.
Another category comprises bank customers who are residents. Their professional duties require them to establish a relationship with a financial institution. Unfortunately, due to their place of birth in a high-risk third country, banks refuse to provide these individuals with access to their services.
The Commissioner is aware that financial institutions are obliged to apply the financial security measures referred to in the Act on Counteracting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. However, the decision not to establish a business relationship or to terminate it cannot be based solely on the fact that, due to their place of birth, the persons concerned belong to a group of customers with an increased risk of money laundering and terrorist financing.
Deputy Commissioner Adam Krzywoń asks the General Inspector of Financial Information whether such practices have been reported and, if so, what measures have been or will be taken to move away from automatic decision-making when concluding contracts.
https://bip.brpo.gov.pl/pl/content/rpo-uslugi-finansowe-panstwa-wysokiego-ryzyka-giif
