Mozambique's central bank fines Standard Bank R67m for 'fraudulent practices'

13 July 2021 - 19:16
By Reuters
Mozambique's central bank has fined Standard Bank and two of its employees. File photo.
Image: Financial Mail Mozambique's central bank has fined Standard Bank and two of its employees. File photo.

The Central Bank of Mozambique has fined Africa's biggest lender, Standard Bank, $4.6m for engaging in fraudulent activities, the central bank said on Monday.

The bank also fined two of Standard Bank's employees around $223,000 and $101,000 respectively and barred the bank from engaging in some exchange-related activities for a year, it said in a statement.

Standard Bank, which is based in SA, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The central bank said after on-site inspections “infringement proceedings were brought against that bank (Standard Bank) and two of its managers ... for serious breaches of a prudential and exchange-rate nature.”

It alleged the bank and the two employees were involved in fraudulent manipulation of the exchange rate, implementing an illegal payments network based outside the country, and carrying out irregular operations of financial derivatives, among other offences.