Financial Times reports that Danske Bank is facing a criminal investigation by US federal prosecutors into its €200bn money laundering scandal, raising the possibility of a large fine for Denmark’s biggest lender.
Danske disclosed on Thursday that it had received requests for information from the US Department of Justice. But it said the timing and outcome of the probe into alleged money laundering through its small Estonian branch was unknown.
“We are co-operating with the authorities investigating us as a result of the case. However, it is too early to speculate on any outcome of the investigations,” said Jesper Nielsen, Danske’s interim chief executive.
Danske ousted its previous chief executive, Thomas Borgen, on Monday following disclosures he ignored warnings about the Estonian branch. The Danish government has said it is doing everything to avoid Danske suffering the same fate as ABLV, a Latvian lender that was forced to liquidate itself earlier this year.
Bill Browder, the investor and Kremlin critic, has asked US authorities to use the Patriot Act to stop banks clearing dollars for Danske, the same sanction the US Treasury applied to ABLV, according to a letter seen by the Financial Times.
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