PrivatBank deducted 41,576 UAH from a client's bonus account for the Armed Forces without consent. Here's the court's ruling on the matter.

A man entered into fifteen deposit agreements for the "Deposit Plus" program with PrivatBank, each lasting 12 months. From 2016 to 2018, he received monthly crediting of separate interest amounts at a rate of 2% per annum for each deposit into a single bank account. Later, he discovered that bank employees transferred funds from the bonus account to the bank accounts of third parties totaling 41,576 hryvnias. This was stated in the decision of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, published on December 10, 2024.

During 2016-2017, the man entered into fifteen deposit agreements for the "Deposit Plus" program with JSC CB "PrivatBank", each for a duration of 12 months. Throughout 2016-2018, JSC CB "PrivatBank" credited him monthly with separate amounts of interest at a rate of 2% per annum for each existing deposit into a single bank account as per the terms of the deposit agreements. Upon the expiration of all fifteen deposit agreements, his bank account held funds amounting to 49,195 hryvnias.

In April 2022, the man learned that bank employees had fraudulently transferred 41,576 hryvnias from the bonus account to the bank accounts of third parties. Over the course of two years, the bank did not provide any official information regarding the transfer of funds from his bank account to the accounts of other third parties.

"The bank decided to close the 'Bonus Plus' program. Clients who wished to use their accumulated bonuses could do so until April 30, 2022, in accordance with the terms of the 'Bonus Plus' program; any unused bonuses were directed to the account of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," a statement from PrivatBank said.

Case Review

The court established that, according to the response from JSC CB "PrivatBank" dated July 11, 2022, the bank had decided to close the 'Bonus Plus' program. Clients wishing to utilize their accumulated bonuses could do so until April 30, 2022, per the 'Bonus Plus' program. The unused bonuses amounting to 41,576 hryvnias were transferred to the account of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

An article published on May 5, 2022, titled "PrivatBank clients transferred 1 billion hryvnias in support of the army from 'Bonus+' accounts," mentions the centralized transfer of funds from the 'Bonus Plus' program to the official account of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The bank transferred the funds centrally, meaning in a single payment from the 'Bonus Plus' system.

What did the court decide?

The court denied the man's claim. He was aware of the closure of the 'Bonus Plus' program.

"The court concluded that the plaintiff was informed about the closure of the 'Bonus Plus' program, as he confirmed his acknowledgment of the terms and conditions of banking services by signing the deposit agreement. He had the means to obtain information, specifically through the bank's official website www.privatbank.ua, where this information was published for the awareness of bank users," the court emphasized.