By Anthony Marcus, correspondent for Eurasia Business News, on January 28, 2026. Article n°2012.
German prosecutors have searched Deutsche Bank’s offices in Frankfurt and Berlin as part of a new money‑laundering investigation.
Prosecutors in Frankfurt say they are investigating “unknown managers and employees” of Deutsche Bank on suspicion of money laundering tied to past business with foreign companies.
The investigation relates to historical transactions, with German media and people familiar with the matter saying it concerns dealings between roughly 2013 and 2018 with foreign entities allegedly used to launder money.
Several outlets report that the case is linked to companies associated with Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who has been under EU sanctions since 2022 for his ties to the Kremlin.
What authorities did
German federal police and Frankfurt prosecutors carried out coordinated searches at Deutsche Bank’s headquarters in Frankfurt and an office in Berlin on Wednesday morning.
Around 30 investigators in plain clothes reportedly entered the Frankfurt HQ, seizing documents and data as part of efforts to clarify whether the bank fulfilled its anti–money‑laundering duties.
Focus of the investigation
Authorities are examining whether Deutsche Bank maintained relationships with foreign companies that were later identified in other probes as vehicles for money laundering.
A key question is whether suspicious transactions were reported to German authorities promptly, since late or missing suspicious activity reports can themselves be a criminal or regulatory violation.
Deutsche Bank’s response and context
Deutsche Bank has confirmed that prosecutors are present at its offices and says it is fully cooperating but cannot provide further details at this stage.
The raids come just one day before the bank is due to release its 2025 results, where it is expected to report its strongest profit in years, heightening the sensitivity of the probe.
The bank has a history of scrutiny over money‑laundering controls, including raids and fines in 2017–2018 and earlier searches in 2022 over late suspicious‑activity reports and other compliance issues.
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© Copyright 2026 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 2012
Eurasia Business News 