Accra:A Ghanaian man living in the United States shared his experience of being questioned by bank officials before he was allowed to withdraw $20,000 of his own money.
According to Ghana Web, the man detailed the incident in a video shared online, where he was seen responding to a series of questions from a bank official as part of the checks conducted before completing the large cash withdrawal. The bank official inquired about his occupation and source of income, to which he replied that he works as a social media influencer, earning income through the content he shares online.
The bank official further questioned the type of content he creates, with the man explaining that he mainly shares his lifestyle, including work, travels, family moments, and other aspects of daily life. The official then asked him to review a form and clarified that the process was intended to protect his money and ensure he was not a victim of fraud.
Additional questions included whether someone was instructing him over the phone or if he had received an emergency request prompting the withdrawal. The questions became more specific, probing whether he was withdrawing the money under pressure, if a family member had contacted him claiming to be in danger, or if anyone had instructed him to lie about the reason for the withdrawal. The man responded 'No' to these questions.
The bank official explained that such checks are necessary due to cases where individuals have been coerced or persuaded into withdrawing large amounts of money. Though this experience might be unusual for some Ghanaian bank customers, similar checks are also common in Ghana for large cash withdrawals, which might require confirming the customer's identity and the purpose of the transaction, among other banking protocols.
In Ghana, customers might also need to give advance notice for large withdrawals, especially to allow time for a branch to prepare sufficient physical cash. Additionally, banks in Ghana are required to monitor transactions and conduct checks to prevent fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes. The direct nature of the questions in the US incident stood out, focusing on whether the customer was being pressured, deceived, or instructed before allowing the transaction to proceed.