Scandal in Kyiv: PrivatBank started an audit after refusing to pay a veteran without arms and legs
18 December 08:45
PrivatBank has launched an internal audit following an incident in its Kyiv branch where a war veteran with multiple amputations of all limbs was not properly provided with a payment card recovery service. This was reported by the press service of the financial institution, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
What happened at the branch
The incident was publicly reported by the head of the Angels patronage service, Olena Tolkacheva. According to her, the incident occurred at a PrivatBank branch at 27-A Beresteysky Avenue.
A medical supervisor of the service brought to the bank a 20-year-old veteran who went to war at the age of 18 and was seriously injured in the area of Izyumske in Kharkiv region. As a result of the fighting, he lost all his limbs.
The branch had to restore his bank card to which he would receive government payments. The previous phone with the card was lost during the battle.
However, the bank employee refused to issue the card, explaining that the client could not hold it to his face for a photo, and that transferring the card to another person was “prohibited by the rules.” Instead, the veteran was offered to issue a power of attorney in the name of a medical supervisor.
Public and NBU reaction
The situation caused a significant public outcry. Olena Tolkacheva publicly stated that in this case, formal procedures were put above humanity.
“Did you show humanity? Did they look for a solution? No. The procedures were more important than the person who fought for them,” she wrote.
Andriy Pyshnyi, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, also reacted to the incident. He stated that this situation is unacceptable and promised to personally contribute to its resolution.
“There will be conclusions, there will be a reaction, but this will not happen. I will personally deliver the card along with an apology,” Pyshny emphasized.
PrivatBank’s response
The bank stated that the situation was unacceptable, and all the circumstances of the incident are currently being investigated. PrivatBank also promised to personally deliver all the necessary bank cards to the client as soon as possible.
“We sincerely regret that this situation has occurred and will carry out internal work to prevent such cases in the future,” PrivatBank said.
