OREANDA-NEWS. UniCredit Bank since the beginning of May had reported to FIU on 55 transactions that could be related to the separatists' funding in order to take prompt legal actions.

"We will promptly respond to any suspicious transactions. This is especially important now, because of the events in the East of Ukraine. UniCredit Bank is working closely with the Ukraine's Security Service, the NBU and the FIU, - said the Head of Compliance on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing Zhanna Yelagina.

According to the procedure, we analyze, identify and transmit data on financial transactions subject to financial monitoring to FIU, and if there are enough grounds to suspect that the transaction involves or is intended to finance terrorist activities we immediately share information about such an operation and about the people who are and were involved in its holding to the FIU and the Security Service. The authorized state agencies analyze, conduct administrative and operational investigations and take a decision in accordance with the criminal procedural law of Ukraine.

In May FIU received 55 messages on financial transactions in which the Bank had suspicions that the accumulation of funds on the accounts of customers could be directed to financing of separatism in the future. The results of the audits by government agencies were not confirmed.

In addition, the bank is constantly reviewing cash withdrawal from the customer accounts. During the month more than 500 messages connected with the cash withdrawal, including ATMs transactions, amounting to approximately UAH 75 million have been sent to FIU.

The Bank has received the information from the Security Service about the possibility of using the bank accounts under the stolen forms of Ukrainian passports in Crimea to finance activities of terrorists. The bank checked the entire customer base using a database of Ukrainian Interior Ministry, and all accounts were opened with legitimate documents.

After that UniCredit Bank sent a memo to all employees of branches and undertook training concerning necessary actions in case if a person with a fake passport appealed to the bank.

"When detecting suspicious activity on customer accounts, which may, for example, prove the money collection for the separatists needs, the bank puts a limit on outbound operations - funds can continue to arrive, but it is impossible to manage them - and then informs the FIU. According to the government agencies, none of UniCredit Bank accounts are used for the needs of the terrorists" - underlines Ms. Yelagina.

UniCredit Bank addresses the media asking to carefully study the facts and publish only verified materials that is particularly important in this unstable period. Bank is ready to defend its reputation by any means. In addition, we remind the readers to rely on proven sources of information only, in order to not support attempts of provocation.