Russia’s SMP Bank says US froze less than $65 mln assets

MOSCOW, Mar 6 (PRIME) -- The sum of Russia’s SMP Bank assets frozen on its U.S. accounts was far smaller than U.S. $65 million, the bank said in a statement Friday, denying a report by The Wall Street Journal that the U.S. has frozen $640 million.

“Please note that the funds were blocked almost one year ago – last April, when sanctions were imposed on the bank; after that, no funds of the bank and its clients were frozen. The bank continues to fulfill all obligations both in rubles and in foreign currencies. Also, the sum of frozen assets is far smaller than U.S. authorities reported,” the bank said.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. has frozen assets belonging to banks of businessmen believed to be close to President Vladimir Putin, Bank Rossiya, SMP Bank and Sobinbank. SMP Bank had $65 million worth of assets in the U.S.

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