Afghan central bank says Kabul Bank ‘solvent’

Afghan soldiers chat Wednesday in front of the main office of Kabul Bank in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Afghan central bank’s decision to force out executives of the nation’s biggest bank amid allegations of mismanagement and questionable lending practices offers the government a chance to take a strong stand against corruption, the United States said Tuesday. (AP Photo)

Story Topics

• Business_Finance
• Abdul Qadir Fitrat
• Afghanistan
• Kabul Bank
• Mohammed Azimi

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KABUL, Afghanistan | Afghanistan's central bank tried to shore up confidence in the country’s biggest financial institution Wednesday after its top executives resigned amid allegations of mismanagement and corruption.

“The bank is solvent,” Abdul Qadir Fitrat, governor of the central bank, told reporters at a hastily called news conference to rebut news reports that the bank is deeply in the red. “The bank has enough liquid assets to meet its liquidity demands.”

Mr. Fitrat said the top two executives of Kabul Bank had resigned as part of reforms being implemented by the central bank to improve professionalism at some of Afghanistan’s 10 private banks.

Mr. Fitrat was trying to prevent depositors from rushing to pull their money out of the institution, but some customers showed up to make withdrawals.

“I give you this confidence that you can keep your account in Kabul Bank,” said Mr. Fitrat, who appeared with officials from the central bank and the two former top executives of Kabul Bank.

Mohammed Azimi, a businessman in Mazar-i-Sharif, said he went anyway to a branch of the Kabul Bank to withdraw $50,000 or $60,000, but the bank would only let him withdraw $5,000.

“They wouldn’t give me the money,” Mr. Azimi said. “They said they would give me the money tomorrow.”

He said some of the 50 people at the bank had not heard of the bank’s troubles.

“After noon, rumors had spread, but the bank had closed for the day,” Mr. Azimi said.

The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Kabul Bank’s losses could exceed $300 million — and that that figure is more than the bank’s assets. The Washington Post reported that the extent of its bad loans, many to the families and friends of powerful politicians, remains unclear.

The U.S. welcomed the central bank’s decision to “confront the mismanagement of Kabul Bank,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tuesday.

“The individuals suspected of illegitimate activities have been replaced and the Afghan government is taking the necessary steps to strengthen the bank and protect its depositors,” he said.

“The situation presents a unique opportunity for the Afghan government to take a strong stand against corruption. We fully expect President [Hamid] Karzai to back the central bank’s efforts and any law enforcement actions that follow to hold those responsible for illicit activity accountable.”

Sherkhan Farnood, former chairman of Kabul Bank, and Khalilullah Ferozi, former chief executive officer, voluntarily resigned because, under new reforms, only banking professionals can hold the top operating positions at banks, Mr. Fitrat said.

He said the bank is being run by Masood Ghazi, a former official at the central bank. Mr. Fitrat said top executives at other banks will be resigning, too, to conform with the reforms.

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