What is wrong banker Gitelson

"This is the most complicated case among all the banks and drainage during the crisis which took place with the participation of the DIA," - after a long pause before answering the general director of the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA), Alexander Turbanov. EEFC bankrupt in nerve in 2008 was simply impossible. The alarming situation in the banking sector was exacerbated by the credit institution serving the retirement accounts "Post of Russia" and the Pension Fund. In the event of bankruptcy, rather than rehabilitation, "Bank EEFC 'accounts and a half million pensioners in St Petersburg would be frozen, they would fall into the third turn of creditors and pensioners would be derelict not to wait for their money. Actually, on this unfortunate and played banker Alexander Gitelson. His calculation was done for stupidity, slowness, and blindness of the state machine, which eventually was forced to spend more than 50 billion rubles for the sake of social peace in the North West region. While the return of those funds is not possible. And who to solve this problem, now it is not clear: public money to rescue banks and the situation is spent and the return of funds, in fact, now draw a headache. However, the investigation continues, and for the first time on the basis of prosecutorial checks can be punished employee of the Bank of Russia. As the "F." Investigation Committee Prosecutor's Office (ICPO) Russia in St. Petersburg, has reviewed the work of the Main Department of the Central Bank of Russia in St. Petersburg in the case of EEFC. As soon assumed the direction of the submission to the regulator which involves disciplinary action of employees of the Bank of Russia. "EEFC provided false information to the Central Bank of deliberately losing activity that CBR could not help noticing. For example, Inkasbank (EEFC in the group - "F.") took the funds from the Leningrad region by 7%, while lending to each of these funds by 3-4%, which is unprofitable to any bank ", - says the investigator for particularly important for the main investigation department (GUS) UPC in St. Petersburg, Vladimir Romitsyn. According to him, the staff of the Central Bank did not bother to check out some quirks and gaps in reporting EEFC thanks to which crimes were committed. Now planned to "eliminate the causes and conditions which led to the commission of economic crimes" in the Central Bank in St. Petersburg, he said. During this "elimination" is not ruled out a number of layoffs, said one of the St. Petersburg bankers. In the State Bank of St. Petersburg query "F." left unanswered. How to build a shield of the people. The banking business in Alexander Gitelson just did not go too well. Back in 1989 he became a shareholder of two financial institutions - "Aeroflot" and bank "Petrovsky". The first fairly quickly denied a license, and the second, much larger, the employer could not share with a partner on equity Yuriy Golovin. First Capital Alexander Gitelson, according to his former business associates, has earned "on their computers." "In the late 1980s Gitelson led multiple businesses. In addition to computer technology, he was engaged in food supplies in St. Petersburg and Moscow. He was even then Luzhkov spoke words of thanks - says one of the top managers of corporations EEFC, a good friend Gitelson. - He liked to work from eight in the morning until midnight. " According to him, Gitelson - a strong personality, strong-willed people, lone wolf. "To argue with him was always difficult," - says his friend, a former top manager of EEFC. Alexander Gitelson back into the banking business, establishing the 1995 Petro-Aero-Bank, which in the banking circles of St. Petersburg had the unflattering reputation. According to the former "Bank EEFC," said that "if a bank employee in the employment record is the record of the work in the Petro-Aero-bank to another bank, it may not take." The rumors about the bank itself were even more dismal. However, the owner of such rumors are denied on the grounds that they are dismiss unscrupulous colleagues. Another of his acquisition was Ruskobank. Since 2003, Gitelson, along with businessman Yuri Zipmanom (ex-CEO of the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange) began collecting bank assets. The first acquisition was small and Inkasbank Vyborg-Bank, purchased from MDM Group. Simultaneously, the partners get the idea to create a big business, which is the name that speaks about the size and ambition. East-European Finance Corporation (EEFC) begins to affect the banking community the number and size of acquisitions. As president EEFC in 2004, Alexander Gitelson acquires from MDM Ural Trust Bank (Udmurtia). Purchase of a number of banks Gitelson argued that acquired banks adapt quickly, with possible to establish a process with almost no loss of client base. After 2 years of stubbornness banker makes itself felt. He is regaining "MDM-Bank Saint Petersburg" (formerly the Bank "Peter"), with which it has not happened ten years ago. Analysts estimated transaction value of $ 100 million while "MDM-Bank Saint Petersburg" was a very strong player, headed by Olga Kazan, passed down as predpravleniya Industrial and Construction Bank (now "VTB North-West"). Many spoke about the symbolism of this purchase: Gitelson returns of their assets. "When he returned to Russia, promised to return" Peter "and walked toward that goal in small steps", - says the top manager of EEFC. "MDM St. Petersburg" was renamed "Bank EEFC" and became the crown of the collection of its banks. In 2006, the corporation consists of "MDM Bank Urals" (which is the bank "Ural EEFC") Novosibirskvneshtorgbank purchased from structures and VTB Bank has become "EEFC Siberia," and bank "growth." After these acquisitions EEFC is a federal company. "He wanted to create a bank, second in size after the Savings Bank, with a large network of branches. But, of course, the banks, which he bought were their skeletons in the closet "- says a close friend Gitelson. "The banks that bought Gitelson, it was a cemetery of skeletons, - says head of the St. Petersburg branch of the Moscow bank. "Bank EEFC" Bank was one man show, if I may say so. Decisions taken at the bank, only one person. Nice cans, cases were not. " During 2007, is a consolidation of corporations EEFC, and by the end of the year about 80% of corporate and private clientele Inkasbank and Petro-Aero-Bank proved to be serviced by the EEFC. However, as it turned out, the banking business for Gitelson was not the only, and may not be essential. The banker, in addition to banks, sizing up the other businesses. For example, in St. Petersburg were holding Proletarian Works with industry-institute - Central Research Institute of Marine Engineering (military and power engineering with views to the orders of "Gazprom", became famous for the corporate conflict, which involved the main owner - a group of ICT), Pskov factory ATS and Research Institute "Krom" and "Morshanskhimmash" - a plant that ended up corporation to recover after bankruptcy. As part of the industrial unit corporations operate a construction company, the company for the production of outdoor advertising, transport service. The Corporation has been the projects and are quite large, in real estate. In the summer EEFC was the founder of "Bank EEFC Banja Luka," the first Russian bank in the territory of former Yugoslavia. However, the scope of activities and interests Gitelson continued hitting the scale and diversity. Thus, according to a former top manager EEFC, Gitelson, "climbed into the oil." In Kalmykia, geologists found an oil field with reserves estimated at 6 million tons, and the businessman wanted to invest in its production. It is also known as oil field and the fuel company in Tyumen, petrol station and a network of gas stations in the Leningrad region. "What kind of projects that we have not talked about. Everything was known only to his henchmen - Tatyana Lebedeva and Ivan Bibinov "- says a board member of EEFC. - This does not even know the Chairman of the Board Vitaly Ryabov. " Meanwhile, the volume of assets Gitelson Empire, which was mostly recorded in the offshore, by September 2007 amounted to 65 billion rubles. The businessman continues to scale up its banking business: the fall of 2007, the shareholders hold an additional issue of Bank EEFC at 3 billion rubles, and after only four months are going to spend one more. EEFC newly announced plans to increase the share capital, again at 3 billion rubles - up to 6.36 billion rubles. If the issue was held, and it has not registered the Bank of Russia, less than a year, the corporation would increase its share capital by more than 17 times. The corporation said that the issue is to increase funds for development of the banking business. "The money coming from somewhere overseas, and we were told that this is private money Gitelson. We did not ask questions "- says a former board member of the EEFC. By mid-summer of 2008, "Bank EEFC" entered the top 40 in terms of net assets (75.5 billion rubles) and the top 50 in terms of capital (7.8 billion). The bank is one of the five largest banks in North-West region in terms of maintenance of natural persons. During the summer of 2008, inflows of client assets in the "Bank EEFC" increased in July and August, the flow of funds of the population was about 1 billion rubles on September 1 on the deposits of the bank lay the 28.7 billion rubles. However, the fall began outflow of funds from the bank's funds to client accounts in August decreased by 12% at the beginning of September amounted to 19.9 billion rubles. The collapse of the empire. Financial problems in the "Bank EEFC" surfaced in early October: Bank started to delay payments and customer payments are not listed entities. Individuals can withdraw money from the deposit only if the previously written to the queue. Bank managers were assured that all problems will be resolved within a week. However, this did not happen. Since the bank served pension payments and they could not reach the required time in early November, the difficulty of "Bank EEFC" from his private problems could become public. Therefore, the Bank of Russia intervened and DIA that October 28, 2008 began to reorganize, "Bank EEFC." The bank was introduced temporary administration DIA, which for several months looking for an investor. An employee of the bank was surprised recalled that the day before bank employees have read in newspapers about the problems of readjustment and EEFC Bank Gitelson morning gathered executives and held a long meeting, discussing plans for the bank in the near future, its expansion in the region. "For the eyes of employees is sometimes spoken of marasmus head" - says one of the employees of the bank middle managers, still working in the structure of "Petrovsky" (now "open"). As a result, the amount spent on the improvement of "Bank EEFC", was about 50 billion rubles. Buying a bank without the procedure of recovery nobody wanted because of the large holes in the balance. All the bankers who were "suspected" in the purchase of EEFC (from Alfa Bank to Bank "Saint Petersburg") referred to the poor quality of bank assets: 70% of the portfolio - 44 billion - made bad loans entities affiliated with the owner of the bank. Yes, and pensioners do not all want to communicate in spite of the fact that these customers are considered "lure", not all banks are willing to be with them "messing around". Therefore, in March EEFC capital was reduced to 1 ruble and decided to place the additional issue of shares amounting to 10 billion rubles. Contributed 50% and DIA 25% - Nomos-Bank, and FC "Discovery." Other banks EEFC corporations "fell" behind his head. Bank "EEFC Siberia" has been sanitized. Inkasbank and "EEFC Ural" lost license February 19, 2009, and Petro-Aero-Bank - April 23, 2009. The representatives of the Central Bank said that the main cause of the collapse of these banks were lending scheme project shareholders at the expense of customers. Search Gitelson and justice. Meanwhile, the banker, had just begun the misadventures. And starting in February 2009 on a criminal case fell one after another. Against him was brought in a total of five criminal cases, and the total amount of claims against him amounted to 6.64 billion rubles (see incision). Gitelson arrested in March 2009. Parallel to the detention center were former chairman of the board, "Bank EEFC" Vitaly Ryabov and his deputy, Ivan Bibinov. All were charged with embezzling 890 million rubles from the Inkasbank. "By 2007, personal account of Alexander Gitelson in Inkasbank began receiving large amounts of money: it was tens of millions of dollars, and by the end of the year on the account has been accumulated about 2.5 billion rubles, - says Vladimir Romitsyn. - However, in reality the money was not, they appear only on paper. On the correspondent accounts of banks of non-residents, some of which were controlled by Gitelson (in particular, the bank "EEFC Banja Luka"), allegedly received the money as directed by Gitelson SWIFT-messages. This allowed him to "draw" the money in the "Bank EEFC" so Gitelson held an additional issue of "Bank EEFC" to the tune of 3 billion rubles. " Central Bank in St. Petersburg checked and registered an additional issue, and to EEFC new capital could in their standards and indicators to go to another level - to carry out unsecured loans. "The scheme is very tricky and simple at the same time. Thus, the capital of "Bank EEFC" increased the amount of which was on the bank accounts of non-resident, but that did not exist in reality, but they existed only on paper "- says Romitsyn. According to him, the bank began to lend EEFC in an unknown direction, part of which was issued by affiliated entities. In this case, Mr. Gitelson take real money from the "common pot". "It is unclear from where supervisory authorities had such blindness: CBR in St. Petersburg did not check account balances of banks and corporations EEFC conducted a desk audit, not going beyond the information provided. Even under the contracts of international cooperation CBR can verify the funds. CBR huge oversight, but direct evidence of staff commitment CBR is not revealed. Increase in share capital by 2.5 billion rubles in St. Petersburg's history is difficult to remember. This can only afford to banks with state ", - Mr. Romitsyn perplexed. Meanwhile, Inkasbank by mid-2008 has ceased to comply with all regulations. The license he had to be withdrawn on October 1, 2008, and the bank ceased to comply with regulations from June 1, I'm sure the investigator. However, managers have continued to make "a good face on a bad game." When came the "day of reckoning" in October 2008, Alexander Gitelson covered shortages from their accounts to 2 billion and $ 500 mln lei, he repaid the shortfall in the deposit account of a customer. Inkasbank getting real money-Len field, and translating them into the "Bank EEFC" and cash in the "Bank EEFC" he confirmed by means of fictitious accounts in Inkasbank $ 9 billion. When it's in EEFC a "provisional government" and began testing in Inkasbank, in the "Bank EEFC" were found cash of 2.5 billion rubles, and in Inkasbank - 9 billion "painted" money. No one has to understand that this is not real money, and just cut 9 billion to 2.5 billion rubles. Since the debtor was Inkasbank about 7 billion rubles. Accordingly, the bankruptcy proceedings began, "- said Romitsyn. According to the investigator, the subjective complexity of the case lay in the fact that I had to learn a great deal of information and understanding of the banking scheme for asset stripping. Objective difficulties were that his work was devoted to a limited number of persons who have not started talking at once. Gitelson himself did not admit guilt. Most witnesses gave top management of banks of EEFC. " The rank and file employees were not laid in the course of the case. "It's interesting from the standpoint of the individual offender. Alexander Gitelson was interesting - he has a criminal talent in his direction, has created one of the largest pyramid schemes, "- says Romitsyn. Point in Inkasbank not been set. In April 2010, Alexander Gitelson was released and where he is today - is unknown. "Gitelson already been charged in the form of detention. Hopefully we can keep him with Interpol "- sure Romitsyn. In the Investigation Committee reported that Gitelson announced an international arrest warrant in absentia and was arrested two months. At the end of January 2011 Meshchansky Court in Moscow has begun to consider the merits of the criminal case of Alexander Gitelson for embezzlement at a State Duma deputy Adnan Muzykaeva 495 million rubles. On the ruins of dreams. "Bank EEFC" has been sanitized first under the new law at the time of the reorganization, adopted in autumn 2008. Deal with problems of the bank were to DIA, Nomos-Bank, and "Discovery."