Priest Veiko Vihuri: Swedbank refused to open an account for him on Saaremaa

Priest Veiko Vihuri describes on his Facebook account how Swedbank refused to open an account for him on Saaremaa. The bank asked questions about his connection to EKRE and referred to him as someone linked to a politically exposed person. Vihuri had previously booked an appointment at the bank, but left without an account.

Priest Veiko Vihuri describes an unpleasant experience with Swedbank on Saaremaa on his Facebook account, where he wished to open a bank account and make a cash deposit.

Vihuri explains that the need to open an account at Swedbank arose for practical reasons, as other banks' branches on Saaremaa are, according to him, "cashless", but he has a specific need to operate with coins. He had previously booked an appointment and travelled to the city to open an account.

Questions about EKRE and "politically exposed person"

However, what the bank began to ask him came as a surprise to Vihuri. According to Vihuri, he was asked whether he belonged to the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE), and was informed that he was linked to a "politically exposed person". These questions led to the bank refusing to open an account for him.

Vihuri shared his experience on Facebook, where it received widespread attention. The incident raises questions about anti-money laundering procedures in the banking sector and the grounds on which banks assess clients' political affiliations.

Broader questions about banking practices

In Estonia, banks are required under anti-money laundering legislation to check clients' backgrounds, including risks related to politically exposed persons (PEPs). However, there are critics who argue that such procedures can become overly intrusive and discriminatory, especially when questions concern a person's party affiliation.