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KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait: Kuwaiti banks have requested assistance from the Central Bank to obtain a complete list of individuals who have recently had their Kuwaiti citizenship withdrawn or revoked. This information, including civil numbers, is crucial for banks to update their customer data and comply with anti-money laundering regulations.

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The request stems from a surge in citizenship revocations by the Kuwaiti government, exceeding 200 cases so far. Banks are concerned about potential financial risks associated with these individuals, such as outstanding loans or deposits.

“The published names in the Official Gazette lack civil numbers,” explained an informed source to Al-Rai newspaper. “This makes it difficult for banks to accurately identify these individuals within our systems, especially considering the possibility of name similarities.”

The source emphasized that obtaining civil numbers is essential to ensure accurate data updates and compliance with Central Bank policies and Public Prosecution directives on combating money laundering. Banks rely on Civil Affairs data to ensure accurate identification.

Kuwaiti banks are scrambling to obtain civil numbers for individuals who recently had their Kuwaiti citizenship revoked. This surge in revoked citizenships, exceeding 200 cases, has raised concerns about potential financial risks for the banks. They require accurate data to manage loans, and deposits, and adhere to anti-money laundering regulations. However, the current practice of only publishing names in the government gazette makes proper identification difficult. Civil numbers are essential for banks to update their systems effectively.

This situation highlights the importance of coordination between government agencies and financial institutions to maintain financial security and prevent money laundering activities.