#StateCaptureInquiry: FNB declined to meet with Zwane's IMC and the ANC
First National Bank (FNB) played hard ball and declined to attend a meeting called by an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) to discuss the closure of the Guptas' accounts.
The state capture commission of inquiry heard on Tuesday that the bank was summoned to a meeting by the IMC, set up by members of former president Jacob Zuma's Cabinet, and one with the ANC at Luthuli House.
But the bank declined to attend either. Unlike Standard Bank, FNB strongly pushed back on both requests, leading to the cancellation of the ANC meeting.
Former First Rand CEO Johan Burger was testifying at the inquiry, which is investigating allegations of undue influence by the politically-connected Gupta family on Zuma's administration.
"In my 32 years in banking it was first time I ever received a request from [a] party or IMC to want to discuss a bank-client relationship. That was unexpected. I didn't expect a third party to question that relationship," Burger said.