The first Czech-Russian bank that lent to Marine Le Pen's National Front has been returned to the Central Bank's electronic payment system. Since March 24, a temporary administration has been introduced into the FCRB

Photo: Lyubov Mishina for RBC

The First Czech-Russian Bank (PCRB) was again connected to the Central Bank's electronic payment system (BESP), a source in the banking market told the Banki.ru portal . “Starting today, the bank is again connected to BESP and has the ability to make interbank transfers,” he said. This information was confirmed to RBC by a source close to the Bank of Russia. According to him, the connection is needed to make payments that have been stuck due to the regulator imposing a moratorium on satisfying creditors’ claims.

The FCRB was disconnected from the Central Bank’s electronic payment system on March 24. On the same day, the Russian regulator decided to appoint a temporary administration of the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) to the bank. On April 1, the Bank of Russia imposed a moratorium on satisfying creditor claims in relation to the credit institution .

Before this, on March 13, Vedomosti wrote about the Central Bank’s restrictions on attracting public funds imposed on the work of the FCRB. According to the publication, the bank underwent a regulatory inspection, as a result of which the credit institution had to accrue additional reserves. A week later, RBC reported that the FCRB had introduced a restriction on the issuance of deposits. An employee of the bank’s call center then said that they would withdraw funds from the deposit in the amount of up to 100 thousand rubles. Possible on the day of application , above this amount - by appointment.

At the beginning of March, the National Bank of the Czech Republic announced the introduction of restrictions on the activities of the Czech subsidiary of the Russian FCRB - the European Russian Bank (ERB). The bank was prohibited from providing loans to the population and placing deposits, as well as acquiring any assets other than those that have zero risk and are “necessary for the normal operation of the bank.”

FCRB is known for lending to the French National Front led by Marine Le Pen. At the end of 2014, the party agreed with the First Czech-Russian Bank on a loan of €9 million. This happened after Le Pen said that French banks refused to lend to her party.

The first Czech-Russian bank ranks 119th in terms of assets. It was established in 1996 on the initiative of the Czech government. Currently, the sole owner of the holding is Russian businessman Roman Popov. According to Vedomosti, he worked as deputy head of the financial department of the Stroytransgaz corporation.

On March 25, RBC, citing the bank’s counterparty and a source close to FCRB, reported that funds from the Czech Embassy in Russia , as well as from the Czech Airlines company (CSA Czech Airlines), were stuck in this credit organization.

RBC also wrote that since 2002, Stroytransgaz, the largest contractor of Gazprom at that time, was the owner and at the same time client of the FCRB. The bank's counterparty said that Stroytransgaz still had accounts there, but a source close to the Stroytransgaz group claimed that the company was serviced there only before Gennady Timchenko became its controlling owner, that is, until 2008. “They wrote that the company has accounts in the First Czech-Russian Bank, but now there are literally 20 thousand rubles there,” said RBC’s interlocutor.

The bank that lent to Le Pen was returned to the Central Bank's electronic payment system