Barclays Bank of Kenya has announced the suspension of all applications for safe deposit boxes for its customers.
This comes two days after police officers impounded Sh2.6 billion in fake currency and gold inside a safe deposit box at the bank’s Queensway Branch in Nairobi’s Mama Ngina Street.
In a statement released on Thursday, Barclays CEO Jeremy Awori says the lender will also be reviewing the existing safe boxes following the incident.
“As an extra precaution, we have taken a decision not to take any new safe deposit boxes and are working with our clients to review the existing safe deposit boxes,” says Awori.
Awori further assures customers that none of the seized counterfeit currency, which was in the form of US dollar bills, infiltrated into the bank.
“We would like to reassure you that we have robust processes to ensure that all currency dispensed over our counters and ATMs is genuine and that items held in safe deposit boxes are separate from the bank deposits,” he adds.
“We continue to cooperate and assist the investigating authorities including proactively reporting and handing over a second safe deposit box owned by the customer under investigation.”
Meanwhile, the four suspects arrested in connection with the fake money and gold will remain in custody for five more days to allow police complete investigations.
The four are Eric Adede, who is the registered owner of the safe deposit box, Ahmed Shah, Elizabeth Muthoni and Irene Wairimu.
Two Barclays Bank employees; Boaz Ochich, and Charles Manzi, who were arrested alongside the four, have been released and will be used as witnesses in the case.
