This information was sent to the government last week, indicating that nearly 3,000 Banif victims, including the Associação de Lesados do Banif (Alboa), intend to file a lawsuit for compensation amounting to at least 242 million euros against the state and government.
The decision to dissolve Banif was made in December 2015 by the government and the Bank of Portugal. Since then, victims have been seeking compensation for losses incurred from financial products. Nearly a decade later, Alboa states that they are not seeking privileges or benefits, but rather the fulfillment of public promises.
The last meeting between the government and victims took place under Luís Montenegro’s administration in July 2024, where the association believed conditions were set to reach a compensation solution by the year’s end.
However, the victims report that despite “hundreds of calls” and “hundreds of emails,” no new meetings have been scheduled.
A source close to the process disclosed that Banif victims regard the payment of the 242 million euros compensation as a government responsibility. Additionally, there is a consideration for a 30-day deadline for creating the credit recovery fund pledged by Prime Minister António Costa.
The judicial notification sent by the victims also highlights that Banif’s resolution resulted in losses for thousands, many of whom have low educational levels and no financial literacy.
According to the document, victims, having trusted their account managers, “lost all their savings and faced poverty and severe hardship.”
