Gelsenkirchen, Germany – A customer of Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen is facing interest charges on a bridge loan after a brazen, large-scale burglary at the bank’s branch in December, according to reports surfacing Saturday.
Astrid Kaiser, 57, says the bank is demanding more than seven percent interest on a loan she took out to cover expenses related to the theft of valuables from her safe deposit box during the break-in. Kaiser had intended to use the funds from the stolen gold to pay for a pre-booked cruise. “I would have expected that if Sparkasse talks about support, that this loan would be interest-free,” Kaiser told the German Press Agency (dpa). “I can pay it back, of course, when the Sparkasse insurance pays out the money due to me.”
The break-in, which occurred at the end of December, saw thieves drill through a thick concrete wall to access over 3,000 safe deposit boxes. Authorities estimate the stolen goods – including gold, cash, and other valuables – to be worth a potentially two- or three-digit million euro sum.
Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen acknowledged the situation in a written statement, saying its advisors “always have an open ear” for customer concerns. The bank stated it was unaware of any customers facing acute financial difficulties as a result of the theft. Due to banking secrecy and data protection laws, Sparkasse declined to comment on individual customer contracts.
Kaiser is among a group of customers pursuing legal action against Sparkasse, alleging insufficient security measures contributed to the theft. “We have nothing more to lose, we have already lost everything,” she said.
Safe deposit boxes at the branch are insured up to a maximum of €10,300. The incident has prompted scrutiny of security protocols at the bank, and the ongoing investigation continues to seek those responsible for the theft.