Gambling, ethics issues prompt three dismissals over Banker's Oath violations

The Disciplinary Committee for Banks banned three bank employees from working as bankers for varying periods of time because they violated the Banker's Oath in three separate cases. The three employees may not work as bankers for 18 months, 12 months and 6 months respectively, according to rulings the committee published on Thursday.

In the first case the employee befriended an 85-year-old customer suffering from a light case of dementia and regularly asked her form money. At one point he took 4,750 euros from the elderly woman's account, without her permission, and gambled it away in a casino. After the customer and bank realized that the money was missing, the employee tried to hide his actions as long as possible.

The committee ruled that the employee violated the Banker's Oath by not acting with integrity or care. He also damaged the trust citizens have in bank employees. The committee therefore banned him from working as a banker for a period of 18 months. According to Financieele Dagblad, the bank dismissed the employee immediately after his transgression came to light.

In the second case, the employee was found guilty of forging an audit statement. The employee worked at the bank as a self-employed person appointed through an intermediary. One of the conditions of employment was that he submit an quarterly audit statement. When he could not obtain the statement through the regular means, he fabricated one. 

The disciplinary committee imposed a year long profession ban on the man. The fact that he did not appear to see what was wrong with his actions weighed in on the ruling, according to the committee. According to FD, the bank suspended the employee's contract.

In the final case the bank employee failed to close a client's bank account as instructed, and instead requested two credit cards on the account, which were delivered to the employee. He spent 3,200 euros on the cards. The committee banned this employee from working as a banker for six months. The fact that he already made an arrangement with the bank to repay the amount, was open and honest about his actions and acknowledged that his actions were unacceptable, were considered in the ruling. The bank did not renew his employment contract, according to FD.

If the committee imposes a professional ban on a banker, his or her name is added to a register for up to three years. That register can be seen by all banks.