CHF loan beneficiaries: In FBiH Parliament, individual voting will show who is influenced by banks

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Beneficiaries of loans in Swiss francs who are still fighting Addiko Bank seem to have never been more determined to finally emerge as winners. 

Thus, the Association "Švicarac" announces a new blockade of Addiko Bank (formerly Hypo Bank) branches in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla...

The blockade was also announced for last Saturday, November 4, but the gathered and disenfranchised loan beneficiaries were not allowed to enter the bank because they were not dressed in accordance with legal regulations and norms. The police on site also determined how each person was dressed. 

- A paradox of Bosnian society. Should we have been thieves like those at Hypo, or Addiko. Perhaps we should have that kind of clothing – says Kemal Duraković, president of the Association "Švicarac".

It is incomprehensible that BiH still has this problem, as neighboring countries, for example, have helped their citizens through legal solutions. The banking lobby does not like it, but the citizens of Croatia and Serbia have had their way. And that should be the goal of the authorities – a happy and satisfied people! In this case, that is not the case at all. The adoption of laws is being delayed, final court decisions are being delayed, but it is clear to the citizens that the banking sector has what citizens do not have – money to obstruct the law, and the power to keep final court decisions in drawers.

While thousands of people are waiting for a solution, and while all their eyes are on the Parliament of the Federation, which is meeting on November 22, unfortunately, 27 people have already ended their lives. 

- Unfortunately, these are people who could not endure all of this. They took their own lives. And I call on others to be brave. No more delays. At the Parliament session, we will request individual voting, and then we will see who is influenced by the bank and who is with the citizens. No more waiting, enough is enough – says Duraković.

There are thousands of reasons for this, note the loan beneficiaries who have plunged more than 7,000 people into darkness. One of the reasons is the public admission and statement of an employee of the credit department of Hypo-Addiko Bank, who was the first to PUBLICLY admit that the virtual product (so-called CHF loans) was intentionally and plannedly introduced with the intention of deceiving citizens and with the clear goal of creating EXTRA PROFIT.

- How the same employees received instructions to sell as many such loans as possible, suggesting and persuading clients to take out such loans. To persuade them that these were "the most favorable loans". For more deceptions and issued loans, the employees of Hypo-Addiko Bank were financially rewarded and evaluated – the Association states.

Otherwise, the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Draft Law on the conversion of loans with a currency clause in Swiss francs (CHF) into convertible marks. Beneficiaries of CHF loans have been repaying loans that are several times higher for years.

According to this draft law, the conversion of loans into KM is foreseen at the exchange rate on the day the loan was taken out, with an interest rate calculated at five percent.

There are several thousand beneficiaries of such loans in BiH. Many, under the pressure of having their property seized, agreed to a deal with the bank, but under duress.

- In order to reach an agreement, they immediately ask you to withdraw your lawsuit, or to sign that you will not sue. Not everyone is brave, so unfortunately they agree to the bank's blackmail – adds Duraković.