Some said they were there to withdraw their money, while others said they were contemplating their next move after getting assurances from bank staff and Singapore's central bank that the rumors were unfounded.
The rumors have also been denied by Hong Kong Monetary Authority Chief Executive
Wahib Bimmadim, an office employee, said he was sent by his company to withdraw
"My company said it was something connected with Lehman Brothers and they didn't want to take any risk," he said. "We are transferring the money to another bank."
Lehman Brothers went bankrupt this month under the strain of the U.S. subprime, or high-risk, mortgage crisis, sparking turmoil on financial markets across the world.
Hundreds of savers also swarmed the Bank of East Asia's branches in
In
"I don't think there's a serious problem. This can happen anywhere in the world," he said.
Woon added he had just closed an account with the
Lim Lok Chiang, the bank's first vice president, condemned what he described as "malicious rumors" about its stability.
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09-25-08 0411ET
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