Russian Guta Bank is temporary unable to take money on deposit from individuals and make payments from such deposits, according to a notice posted on the doors of several of the bank’s offices

Russian Guta Bank is temporary unable to take money on deposit from individuals and make payments from such deposits, according to a notice posted on the doors of several of the bank’s offices. The situation at Guta Bank was discussed at a meeting of the Moscow Main Territorial Department of the Central Bank of Russia on Tuesday. Guta Bank’s press service refused to comment on the issue, saying that the bank’s official position would be announced later. A number of the bank’s clients said they could not make the necessary payments, Echo of Moscow radio reported. According to the radio station, the depositors cannot get access to their accounts using the Telebank and Teleinfo systems. The wave of distrust toward the bank was triggered by media reports about document seizures at the bank, the Novye Izvestia newspaper says. According to some reports, Guta Bank has been concealing some interbank payments since July 1, and since July 5, the bank’s clients have had problems withdrawing their money through ATM machines. According to Novye Izvestia, several of Guta Bank’s key partners, including Vneshtorgbank, Alfa Bank, MDM Bank and the Bank of Moscow, refused to provide loans to Guta Bank at the end of last week. Guta Bank is one of Russia’s 15 largest banks in terms of capital, and one of the country’s 20 top banks in terms of assets. Its authorized capital was RUR 3.357bn (about $115.76m) as of March 2004.