Banks in Ukraine have begun to ask clients for confirmation of the origin of funds during any Finnish operations. Some require supporting documents if citizens withdraw money from long-standing accounts. Since September, new rules for working with banks in Ukraine. According to the decision of the National Bank, during any financial transactions banks may require documents from Ukrainians confirming the origin of their money. This can be a certificate of wages, documents on the income received from the sale of products, the sale of property or winnings in the lottery, for services provided or the receipt of inheritance. Such documents may also include a tax return, a certificate from the pension fund, as well as any others that confirm the legality of the available funds. Prove income Most of all problems due to new rules arose from citizens who are employed unofficially and, accordingly, do not have any official confirmation of the origin of their "salary". According to the Minister of Social Policy Andrei Reva, there are a lot of such people: out of 26 million able-bodied Ukrainians only 16 million. Banks independently determine the amount that they check - they depend on the potential risk of the operation. Small amounts that are received on accounts, transactions that are easy to track, usually do not require additional documents. "If a client opens an account for transactions for small amounts to receive wages, scholarships, pensions, social benefits, no additional supporting documents are needed," said Vladimir Gavlitsky, director of the compliance department at Pivdenny Bank. But if in the future the discrepancy between the transaction amount and the client's financial position is revealed, the banks will require additional information to confirm receipt of funds. To withdraw money is not easy. Usually banks check the incomes of citizens when they put cash on an account. But some of them require supporting documents, even when the client wants to withdraw money from an existing account. For example, the largest in the country "Privatbank", which has about 20 million customers. "The amount, upon receipt of which such a check is carried out, is established taking into account the real and potential financial capabilities of the client, the level of his solvency, the provision of cash, assets and the social status of the client," the "Privatbank". If the client can not provide the necessary documents, the bank refuses to give money. "After all, the incomprehensible origin of these funds can expose the bank to the application of sanctions and measures of the regulator's influence for violating the requirements of the legislation in the field of money laundering, financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," explained in "Privatbank". A similar situation in Raiffeisen Bank Aval,. "If you withdraw more than 100 thousand hryvnia from the account, you must provide supporting documents," the bank's call center said.. On the Verge of the Law Lawyers consider such requirements of banks illegal. "If the deposit is placed before the entry into force of the amendments to the position of the National Bank, the bank has no right to demand documents to confirm the financial condition, even in the case of unofficial employment of the client," explains Evris law firm lawyer Ekaterina Bredulyak. She notes that the bank's obligation to return the deposit within the specified period is established by the Civil Code and the client can challenge the refusal to give money in court and has every chance to win a case. However, the situation with withdrawal of funds from the account may be special. "On the one hand, restriction of the client's rights regarding the disposition of funds in his account is not allowed, except by a court decision or encumbrance conditions. But if operations on such account are stopped, the bank should find the basis in the law on the prevention of money laundering, "- admits Catherine Bredulak. But if such grounds are not found, the bank must give money. Where will the money go? But even if customers can document the origin of their fortunes, some banks. They require their clients to explain how they will use the money they want to withdraw from their account. "At the enterprises and individual entrepreneurs, the bank requires an explanation regarding the use of funds that are withdrawn in cash. The use of cash must correspond to the essence and content of the activity of such a client, "says DW board member, financial and operational director of Idea Bank Oleg Lutsenko. In some cases, banks also request such documents from ordinary individuals. "A one-time withdrawal of cash received as a result of the sale of real estate or other property does not raise questions or suspicions. But if this is a regular withdrawal of funds received, for example, as financial assistance or debt rewriting, the bank conducts a study of the purpose of the operations performed and requests additional documents, "said Irina Prishlyak, leading economist of the financial monitoring department of OTP Bank. Dissatisfied customers Clients are unhappy with such strict requirements of banks. "I wanted to put money in my account to earn a little on interest. But if I then have to ask for any information about my salary, then I will not contact the bank. Time is very uncertain now, and can be dismissed at any time: how then to prove that he had any income? "- says Andrew from the Dnieper. New rules can alienate a significant portion of potential investors. "This creates unnecessary difficulties for anyone in communication with customers.

But on the request for the origin of funds the client can, say, provide a certificate from the place of work with slightly exaggerated incomes. Banks do not have the opportunity to verify the authenticity of such documents, "said Vitaliy Shapran, member of the executive committee of the Ukrainian Society of Financial Analysts. He does not exclude the emergence of special firms that will provide Ukrainians with false certificates of income received. Elena Gubar.

Original article: Financial surveillance: how banks check the income of Ukrainians.