The Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt has ruled that banks must generally reimburse unauthorized withdrawals unless customers are negligent. The May 26 2026 ruling concerns a 2019 case.
The court ordered a bank to pay about 66,000 euros that had been withdrawn without authorization. The plaintiff deposited over 300,000 euros at the end of June 2019 but never received the card.
Two convicted individuals withdrew nearly 220,000 euros between late June and late August 2019 while the account holder was abroad. He blocked the account upon his return.
The lower court had previously sided with the bank. The higher court determined that the payments were unauthorized and the bank is liable.
