Update: UOB says investigation of trash bag of unshredded documents concluded

UNITED Overseas Bank (UOB) said on Thursday it has closed investigations over an online report detailing the contents of a whole trash bag of mainly unshredded bank documents with client details, but gave no further information. These documents were found "under a tree along the street" at Boat Quay, said Middle Ground, an online news website.

The site reported in July that its reporters had found an entire trash bag with confidential documents that included corporate bank statements to applications for loans. The news portal put up pictures of the documents - with the sensitive information redacted - that had details of at least one guarantor behind a loan. A personal phone bill was also found in the trash bag, which was marked for recycling, the news site said.

"We are aware of the article," a UOB spokeswoman said, adding that the bank has concluded investigations. She would not say if a staff, or a third-party vendor has been censured.

"We wish to reassure our customers that UOB takes very seriously any breach of customer confidentiality. We have a strict policy and procedures in place which govern the secure handling and disposal of confidential and sensitive information. Any staff or vendor found in breach of the policy and procedures will be dealt with accordingly."