Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) shares are taking a fall today.
Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed yesterday trading for $11. In morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $10.33 apiece, down 6.1%.
For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.2% at this same time.
Taking a step back, Bendigo Bank shares have underperformed over the past year, sliding 22.7%. Those losses will have been modestly eased by the 66 cents in fully-franked dividends the Aussie bank paid out over the full year. Bendigo Bank currently trades on a 6.3% fully franked trailing dividend yield.
Now, here's what the bank just reported on its decidedly lacking historic risk management issues.
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Bendigo Bank shares tank on money laundering deficiencies
Before market open this morning, the bank reported on the results of the independent Deloitte investigation into suspicious activities at one of its branches. The review focused on activity at the branch in the period between 1 August 2019 and 1 August 2025.
Bendigo Bank engaged Deloitte in August this year to conduct the investigation after it identified and reported the matter to AUSTRAC and law enforcement. The bank noted that it ensured the Deloitte review was sufficiently broad to identify both the nature and scope of the issues at the branch. That includes any related systemic Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing issues.
Today, Bendigo Bank shares are under pressure after the Deloitte review concluded that deficiencies in the bank's approach to identifying, mitigating, and managing money laundering and terrorism financing risk existed throughout the six-year period.
And Deloitte discovered that these deficiencies weren't limited to the single branch. Rather, the report identified weaknesses and deficiencies across many key aspects of Bendigo Bank's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing risk management approaches.
What did management say?
Commenting on risk management shortcomings that are pressuring Bendigo Bank shares today, the board said it "is very disappointed with the findings".
The board added that it "is fully committed to ensuring that the bank undertakes the necessary enhancements to its systems, processes and frameworks to ensure it is fully compliant with its obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006".
Additionally, the board said it is committed to fully funding the "uplift program" to address all of the deficiencies identified in the Deloitte review.
As for the potential impact on Bendigo Bank shares in the months ahead, the board concluded:
While the final outcomes (including costs) are unknown at this stage, the bank will keep the market informed in line with its continuous disclosure obligations. The Bank will continue to engage constructively with AUSTRAC, APRA and ASIC in relation to this matter.
