Lotto 1st Prize '2.9 Billion Won' Claimed... "Please Provide the Password"

[Image source=Getty Images Bank]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] NH Nonghyup Bank has been embroiled in controversy over customer treatment issues, including demanding the bank account password of a Lotto first-prize winner and forcibly selling savings products.

On the 28th, MBC revealed a report from Mr. A, who won the first prize in the Lotto. Mr. A explained that he visited the Nonghyup Bank headquarters in Seodaemun, Seoul, to claim his winnings. Mr. A's Lotto prize totaled 4.3 billion KRW, with a net amount of 2.9 billion KRW after taxes.

Mr. A mentioned that he cautiously visited the bank without disclosing his Lotto win to those around him. However, according to Mr. A, the Nonghyup Bank employee he dealt with blatantly asked questions related to the Lotto winnings. The employee reportedly inquired not only about the winning draw but also where the ticket was purchased.

Furthermore, Mr. A experienced an awkward situation even at the winner-exclusive counter. During the process of opening an account to receive the winnings, the bank employee asked Mr. A to verbally provide the account password. In principle, customers' account passwords are not disclosed to employees, and customers are required to enter them directly into the terminal.

Additionally, Mr. A revealed that the bank employee pressured him to invest the winnings into an annuity product worth 500 million KRW. Even after Mr. A expressed refusal, the employee continued to insist on subscribing to other financial products, and Mr. A had to open a savings account that was not part of his plan. It is reported that he has formally requested an investigation by the Financial Supervisory Service regarding this matter.

Following this, reports surfaced that forcibly selling products to Lotto winners is not a first-time occurrence. Other first-prize winners, Mr. B and Mr. C, also explained that the process of claiming their winnings was not smooth and that they experienced forced explanations and subscriptions to financial products. On the other hand, Nonghyup Bank acknowledged the careless handling of passwords but explained that they did not forcibly sell products but provided asset management services.

Netizens responded with comments such as, "If the winning information was revealed in such a manner in a crowded public place, it must have been very embarrassing," "Isn't this practically a leak of personal information by the employee?" "If customer service is at that level, I think the person in charge should be punished," and "It would be better if the banks for claiming Lotto winnings were diversified rather than limited to one."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.