Bank Ordered to Compensate Client for Refusing Deposit with Certified ID Copy
A Moroccan bank has been ordered by the Casablanca Commercial Court of Appeal to pay compensation to a client after refusing to accept a deposit due to the client presenting a certified copy, rather than the original, of his national identity card.
The dispute stems from an incident in 2018,when the client attempted to deposit 21,500 dirhams into his own account at a Rabat branch to cover loan payments. Despite offering a certified copy of his ID, along with other valid official identification like a passport and driver’s license, the bank teller refused the transaction. the client subsequently had the transaction successfully completed at another branch of the same bank, utilizing the same certified copy.
He than pursued legal action, arguing the bank failed to uphold its contractual obligations and the trust inherent in the client-bank relationship. The initial ruling by the Rabat commercial court sided with the client, awarding him 9,000 dirhams in damages.
The bank appealed, citing internal security protocols and regulations regarding identity verification. However, the Court of Appeal rejected these arguments, emphasizing the transaction was a simple deposit into an existing account – posing minimal risk of fraud.
The court specifically referenced Article 440 of the Code of Obligations and Contracts, which grants certified copies the same legal weight as original documents. It deemed the teller’s refusal as “professional misconduct” and a demonstration of “abuse in the exercise of law,” constituting a breach of the bank’s service commitments.
Ultimately, the Court of Appeal upheld the original judgment, confirming the 9,000 dirham compensation and ordering the bank to cover all associated legal costs. This ruling reinforces the principle that banks cannot arbitrarily deny services when presented with legally valid identification, even in certified copy form.
