A customer of Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen is facing interest charges of over seven percent on a bridging loan, despite losing valuables in a spectacular break-in at the bank’s safe deposit boxes at the end of 2025. Astrid Kaiser, 57, says she requires the loan to pay for a pre-booked cruise, funds for which were intended to come from gold stolen during the heist.
The break-in, which occurred in late December, saw thieves drill through a thick concrete wall to access over 3,000 safe deposit boxes, making off with an estimated haul potentially worth millions of euros in gold, cash, and other valuables. Kaiser’s safe deposit box was among those targeted.
“I would have expected that if Sparkasse talks about support, this loan would be interest-free,” Kaiser told reporters. “I can pay it back as soon as the Sparkasse’s insurance pays out the money due to me.” She added that she feels like “even more of a victim of Sparkasse” as the bank profits from her predicament.
Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen acknowledged the situation in a written statement, saying its advisors “always have an open ear” for customer concerns. The bank likewise stated it was unaware of any customers facing acute financial difficulties as a result of the theft. Though, the bank cited banking secrecy and data protection laws as reasons for not commenting on individual customer contracts.
The standard insurance coverage for safe deposit boxes at Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen is capped at 10,300 euros. Kaiser has joined a lawsuit against the bank, alleging insufficient security measures. “We have nothing to lose, we have already lost everything,” she said.
The incident has prompted scrutiny of the bank’s security protocols. A forensic investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the losses and assess the vulnerabilities exploited by the perpetrators.
