Sense Bank suspends head of financial monitoring after NBU demand
State-owned Sense Bank has temporarily suspended the director of the Financial Monitoring Department from performing duties. The employee's access to the bank's corporate network and information systems has also been completely blocked.
Sense Bank reported this on August 25. In the new statement, the bank did not name the suspended employee, but earlier the National Bank of Ukraine publicly demanded the suspension of Liudmyla Snihur, head of Sense Bank's Financial and Currency Monitoring Department.
The bank stressed that the suspension is temporary. During the period of this decision, the employee will not be able to use the financial institution's corporate network or other systems.
"Sense Bank is interested in fully clarifying the circumstances within the case and continues cooperation with law enforcement agencies within the current legislation," the bank's statement said.
NBU demanded suspension of Liudmyla Snihur
Earlier, the National Bank said it had sent Sense Bank an official document demanding the suspension of Liudmyla Snihur from her duties.
The regulator explained that it does not have the authority to dismiss employees of commercial or state banks on its own. However, as part of banking supervision, the NBU can demand the elimination of identified deficiencies, improvement of corporate governance, risk management and internal control systems, and in cases prescribed by law, raise the issue of suspending officials.
This is the mechanism the NBU used in the situation with Snihur, sending the bank an official demand.
The National Bank also said it continues work within the already open proceedings on possible interference in Sense Bank's operational systems.
The regulator stressed that further decisions will be made after establishing all circumstances and facts through supervisory procedures prescribed by law.
Sense Bank is at the center of investigation
The decision to suspend the head of financial monitoring was made amid increased attention of law enforcement agencies and the regulator to the work of the state bank.
In recent days, Sense Bank representatives appeared in anti-corruption investigation materials, and the National Bank separately checks the circumstances of internal financial monitoring and control systems.
At the same time, the suspension of the employee itself is not proof of a crime. Final conclusions regarding the actions of officials can be made only based on the results of the investigation and relevant court decisions.
Sense Bank became state-owned in 2023. The owner of 100% of the bank's shares is the state of Ukraine represented by the Cabinet of Ministers, and corporate rights are managed by the Ministry of Finance.
Based on materials: Sense Bank, National Bank of Ukraine
