Commonwealth Bank is facing legal action in the US from a charity seeking the return of millions of dollars frozen by the bank due to allegations of bribery.
The ACE Foundation, which offers technology and assistance to organisations operating in poor countries, denies its engagement with two CBA IT workers "was part of a secret plot in years past to win corrupt contracts for a bank vendor", it said as it filed a lawsuit in California.
The two IT workers have pleaded not guilty to charges laid by the NSW Police that they received more than $2 million from ACE to provide IT work to a company set up by the donor of the charity's initial funds.
ACE wants CBA to return $2.53 million in funds, arguing they are being wrongfully held in Australia, and is also seeking damages.
ACE's lawsuit states it was upfront with the bank when it provided funds to the IT workers to cover project costs.
The bank disapproved of the relationship between its IT workers and ACE, and made false allegations of illegal secret payments by the charity when it moved to prevent the cash being returned to the US, ACE claims.
A CBA spokesperson said she could not comment given the matter is still being investigated by NSW police.
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