Bank tells client account suspended as he is 'dead'

A Saudi man tried to withdraw money from the cash machine at his bank but was surprised to find that his account has been suspended. When he called the bank, his surprise turned into shock when he was told he had 'died'.

“I tried to explain to them that I am still alive but they demanded proof,” Fahd Al Siwat said, quoted by the Saudi Arabic language daily Sabq.

“I don’t know how they decided that I am dead…they asked me to file a complaint and I did…this happened a few days ago and am still waiting for them to confirm that I am alive..I call on authorities to investigate this irresponsible behavior.”

The paper did not identify the bank but said it has obtained its name and it is based I the Western Saudi town of Taif.