Switzerland publishes list of dormant bank accounts for first time

Geneva: Switzerland on Wednesday published for the first time a list of dormant bank accounts to give their owners’ heirs a chance to come forward and claim the funds. The list contains the names of individuals or companies without any movements on their Swiss bank accounts for the past 60 years. It is published on a website, www.dormantaccounts.ch, and contains just over 2,600 names, the Swiss Bankers Association said in a statement. [caption id=“attachment_2337012” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational Image. Reuters[/caption] The combined value of the assets is about 44 million Swiss francs (USD 44.5 million). In addition, 80 safe-deposit boxes are published. Claimants have a year to come forward before banks must hand the assets over to the Swiss state. AFP