The bank advised that it was the complainant’s responsibility to clear the legitimacy of the beneficiary prior to making the payment and the bank declined the complainant’s request for a refund.
After consideration of the facts as well as the bank manager’s statement, the OBS found that the bank manager had failed to exercise reasonable care and skill to prevent the complainant’s loss, which was reasonably foreseeable. Since the bank manager informed the complainant that the Business Online payment option takes up to 48 hours for the funds to reflect in the beneficiary account of an agent bank and that the Business Online payment option was therefore the best way to effect the payment, the complainant was reasonably justified in his reliance on the advice he received from the bank manager. The OBS further found that the bank manager should have clearly informed the complainant that, based on his professional opinion and experience, the possibility of the funds immediately clearing was more than a likelihood. Instead, the bank manager provided the complainant with advice that made it appear that the payment could be recalled if the recall was done within 48 hours, which was clearly incorrect and resulted in the loss suffered.
The OBS found that the bank was liable to refund the complainant’s loss in full and the bank agreed.
PRINCIPLE: If the bank misrepresents the complainant and the complainant acts on the misrepresentation to his detriment, the bank will be held liable for the loss.
