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1994-05-02
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<text>
<title>
Taiwanese Editorial Discusses BCCI Fraud
</title>
<article>
<hdr>
Joint Publications Research Service, September 23, 1991
Taiwan: Editorial Discusses BCCI Fraud
</hdr>
<body>
<p>The Impact of and Lessons Learned From the BCCI Fraud Case
[Taipei, Ching-Chi Jih-Pao in Chinese, 31 Jul 91, p. 2]
</p>
<p> The Bank of Credit and Commerce (BCCI), which ranked about
150th among world banks, was closed down a few days ago by
countries such as Britain, the United States, France, and
Germany. As this is a complex case involving a huge amount of
money and dozens of countries, it is not only having an impact
on financial circles, but is also shocking banking authorities
in all countries. While the real extent of Taiwan's losses is
yet to be investigated, this case of fraud is teaching valuable
lessons to Taiwan's banking authorities, foreign exchange
banks, and export manufacturers and business firms. The BCCI
system was founded in 1983, with its general headquarters set
up as an international bank in Luxembourg. After it was founded,
it expanded very quickly, so that by the time it was shut down
by the above-named countries, it had assets of more than $20
billion, ranked about 150th among the world's 500 biggest
banks, and had branches in 70 countries throughout the world,
and also in Taipei. While the details of this case have not yet
been announced officially, the U.S. Federal Reserve Council
announced on 28 July 1991 that it was fining BCCI $200 million
and the New York Regional Prosecutor's Office has brought suit
against BCCI's two founders on charges, such as money
laundering, falsifying bank records, and bribing officials.
</p>
<p> BCCI's Taiwan branches were responsible only for tasks such
as making business contacts and collecting information, and
certainly did not engage in international business, such as
savings and loans. Thus, when BCCI was first closed down by
various countries, as it had certainly not caused many direct
losses in Taiwan, it did not arouse much concern. But when
BCCI's Hong Kong operations were disciplined and suspended by
the Hong Kong Government, which caused direct losses for
Taiwanese manufacturers, business forms and certain banks,
concerned Taiwanese departments, including the banking
authorities, began to pay serious attention to BCCI.
</p>
<p> It is reported that the direct losses sustained by
Taiwanese manufacturers and business firms from the closing of
BCCI involved about 400 savings accounts amounting to more than
$50 million, while most of the indirect losses involved
mortgages or remittances. As far as Taiwan's foreign exchange
banks are concerned, except for the Hunan Bank that suffered
more because of BCCI, other Taiwan banks sustained only slight
loss in the areas of mortgages and remittances. As our central
bank never had any foreign exchange reserves in BCCI, it
suffered no direct losses.
</p>
<p> Since the BCCI fraud case was exposed, and since the Hong
Kong branch of BCCI was shut down in particular, the reactions
by various parties have been varied. The Ministry of France's
Banking Office has called on manufacturers and business firms to
set up systems to determine the credit ratings of foreign
manufacturers and business forms, when internationalizing their
enterprise operations. The central bank has indicated that it
would take advantage of the lessons learned from this case of
fraud by more closely supervising the business operation of
overseas branches of Taiwan banks and foreign bank branches in
Taiwan. Certain foreign exchange banks have been shocked by the
closing down of the world's 150th ranked bank. And many
manufacturers and business firms have been even more alarmed by
the possibility of collapsing accounts due to fraudulent credit
certifications by such a world-class bank. But we think that
the BCCI fraud case has really taught banking authorities,
foreign exchange banks, and manufacturers and business firms,
various lessons, the most noteworthy being as follows:
</p>
<p> 1. In addition to strengthening their control over both
Taiwanese and foreign bank branches in Taiwan, the banking
authorities should also strengthen their control over Taiwanese
bank branches abroad. As the number of foreign bank branches in
Taiwan and Taiwanese bank branches overseas have been
increasing steadily in recent years, supervision of their
operations must be strengthened. In particular, supervision and
auditing must be enhanced for overseas branches of Taiwanese
banks and international bank branches that conduct external
banking operations in Taiwan.
</p>
<p> 2. Taiwanese foreign exchange banks have always over-
emphasized size of operation, such as banks in the top 500 or
top 100, in their selection of foreign banks with which to do
business. While this method of selection may be simple and
convenient, it is unable to distinguish quality. Even though
BCCI was a large international bank that was ranked as one of
the 150th biggest banks in the world, it was still shut down by
the governments of many countries because of its flagrant
crimes. When selecting foreign banks with which to do business,
it is absolutely necessary to analyze their finances and
operations and assess their credit ratings, instead of judging
them simply by size.
</p>
<p> 3. When conducting foreign trade, manufacturers and business
firms must not reply 100 percent on the credit certifications
presented by foreign banks. Most Taiwanese export manufacturers
and business firms rely too much on credit certifications,
especially by considering credit certifications by
international banks as absolutely reliable "payment guarantees."
Even with credit certifications presented by banks, it is still
necessary to investigate the credit ratings of overseas
importers. Otherwise, it is hard to recoup goods payments when
the certifying banks run into trouble. Even if there is no
trouble with certifying banks, choosing foreign manufacturers
and business firms with good credit ratings is still the key
basis for steady business growth.
</p>
<p> In light of today's conditions in which all parties are
vigorously promoting banking liberalization and
internationalization, even though the BCCI case is having a
great impact on the banking authorities, foreign exchange
banks, and export manufacturers and business firms, it is also
teaching timely and very alarming lessons. It is deeply hoped
that the banking authorities, foreign exchange banks, and
export manufacturers and business firms will learn the lessons
taught by this case of fraud by examining their respective
operations. If deficiencies are found, quick improvements should
be planned.
</p>
</body>
</article>
</text>