NORTHERN ROCK GUERNSEY has corrected a website error that suggested it was accepting deposits from Zimbabwe.

It comes after former Conservative leader William Hague turned the spotlight on its Guernsey subsidiary’s dealings with Zimbabwe in a House of Commons debate. The shadow foreign secretary said the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe was probably the worst anywhere outside a war zone.

‘One in four Zimbabweans have become refugees and those who remain are at the mercy of a regime that beats, kills and tortures with impunity,’ said Mr Hague. However, he moved on to say there was wider agreement that businesses should be responsible in their approach to investment in the country and he was concerned to see that Northern Rock Guernsey was accepting deposits from a country on the financial sanctions list.

‘Northern Rock Guernsey does not accept deposits from any individual, entity or country placed on the financial sanctions list,’ said a spokesman for the company. ‘In addition, we restrict deposits from areas classed as sensitive jurisdictions.’