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Wed, 23 Jul, 2014 12:06:39 AM FTimes-STT Report, July 23  Photo Lehtikuva. The National Discrimination Tribunal of Finland on Tuesday ruled that S-Bank acted discriminatorily towards an Estonian national.
The bank refused to accept Estonian passport as a proof of identity and to grant the client internet banking codes.
According to the bank, people from foreign countries represent higher risks of money laundering and terrorist financing, which entitles it to require Finnish identification.
The tribunal considered that no legislation or other official instructions prevented the bank from accepting the petitioner’s Estonian passport as proof of identity.
According to the court, the practice is discriminatory and has no legal basis.
The tribunal further adjudged that the bank’s general identification instructions were open to interpretation and could therefore result in direct or indirect discrimination.
Furthermore, the tribunal prohibited the bank from continuing or repeating its conduct.
The court imposed a conditional fine of EUR 5,000 on the bank.
The tribunal secretary, Juhani Kortteinen, said internet banking is used for a number of services other than banking.
Cases similar to this one have become common over the past year, said Kortteinen.
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