Deutsche Bank Under Scrutiny: Offices Raided in Money Laundering Investigation
Frankfurt/Berlin, January 28, 2026 – German judicial authorities executed search warrants at Deutsche Bank’s premises in Frankfurt am Main and Berlin today, as part of an investigation into suspected money laundering. The Frankfurt public prosecutor’s office, specializing in economic crime, confirmed the raids, stating that unknown officials and employees of the bank are under suspicion.
The investigation, conducted jointly with the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), focuses on past business relationships maintained by Deutsche Bank with foreign companies. These companies are suspected of having been used for money laundering purposes. Authorities have not yet disclosed details regarding the nature of these business relationships, the scope of transactions conducted through Deutsche Bank, or the identities of the companies involved. The raids aimed to secure additional evidence for the ongoing probe.
Bank Cooperates with Authorities, Shares Decline
A spokesperson for Deutsche Bank confirmed the searches, stating, “The bank is fully cooperating with the public prosecutor’s office. We ask for your understanding that we cannot comment further at this time.” Following the announcement, Deutsche Bank shares experienced a decline of approximately three percent on the stock market.
This development comes amidst broader concerns about the financial sector. The German financial supervisory authority BaFin has also issued strong statements, contributing to investor unease, according to market reports from January 28, 2026.
Delayed Suspicious Activity Reports Linked to Abramovich?
Reports from the Süddeutsche Zeitung suggest that the current raids are connected to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who is currently under EU sanctions. According to the newspaper, Deutsche Bank allegedly submitted one or more suspicious activity reports concerning companies linked to the oligarch with significant delays to the authorities.
This is not the first time Deutsche Bank has faced criticism for its handling of money laundering prevention and the timely submission of suspicious activity reports. In April 2022, investigators from the public prosecutor’s office, the BKA, and BaFin also raided the bank’s headquarters in Frankfurt. Subsequently, BaFin temporarily assigned a special commissioner to Deutsche Bank to oversee its progress in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. This commissioner was withdrawn at the end of 2024.
Ongoing Efforts to Combat Money Laundering
The issue of money laundering remains a significant concern for financial institutions and regulatory bodies across Europe. Oliver Feldforth of HR discussed the raids on Deutsche Bank on tagesschau24 at 3:00 PM on January 28, 2026, highlighting the continued vigilance required in this area.
Earlier reports, such as an interview with AMLA head Szego on July 1, 2025, emphasized the need for more effective and robust measures against money laundering. Furthermore, an exclusive report from June 22, 2023, questioned whether Abramovich was hiding money in German companies, and a ruling by the EU court on December 20, 2023, saw Abramovich’s appeal against sanctions rejected.
These incidents underscore the persistent challenges faced by the financial industry in preventing illicit financial activities and complying with increasingly stringent regulations. The current investigation into Deutsche Bank serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts by authorities to ensure transparency and integrity within the banking sector.
Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/deutsche-bank-razzien-100.html
