UBS banked Ghislaine Maxwell for years, moving her money after Epstein's arrest
[1/2]Ghislaine
Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in this image released by the
Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 19, 2025 as
part of a new trove of documents from its... Purchase Licensing Rights
LONDON/TORONTO/FRANKFURT, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Swiss wealth giant UBS (UBSG.S)
opened accounts for Ghislaine Maxwell in 2014 just months after
JPMorgan Chase decided to end its relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and
helped her manage as much as $19 million in the years leading to her
sex-trafficking conviction, documents show.
The
documents, part of a cache released by the U.S. Justice Department last
month, provide fresh insights into the extent of UBS’ banking
relationship with Maxwell, who was arrested in 2020 and found guilty in
2021 for her role in helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The
documents, which include emails and bank statements, show the Swiss
lender opened personal and business accounts for Maxwell holding cash,
shares and investments in hedge funds. UBS assigned her two relationship
managers, who then helped Maxwell move millions of dollars and accorded
her other benefits the bank reserves for its wealthy clients.
In
2014, after JPMorgan closed Epstein's accounts, UBS provided him with a
credit card, an email shows. Epstein had been jailed and pleaded guilty
in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
That
account was closed in September that year. Epstein's accountant told
him UBS had taken the decision because of the "reputational risk," an
email shows. But the bank continued its relationship with Maxwell even
though her proximity to Epstein had been reported by several media,
including in an interview with the financier.
UBS
declined to respond to Reuters questions for this article, including
why it took on a client deemed high risk by another bank. There is no
evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of UBS or its advisers, and some
documents show the bank conducted due diligence before transferring her
accounts from JPMorgan. Reuters could not learn details of the diligence
the bank did.
A lawyer for Maxwell did not respond to a request for comment.
MAXWELL IS INTRODUCED TO UBS
Epstein and Maxwell had banked with JPMorgan for years,
but the biggest U.S. lender started getting concerned about risks of
dealing with them in the years following Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
In
2011, while conducting know-your-customer checks, JPMorgan advised
internally that Maxwell be flagged as a "High Risk Client" over her
links to Epstein, separate U.S. court documents show. In 2013, JPMorgan
decided to close Epstein’s account.
JPMorgan
flagged in Epstein’s history that “[p]er bank policy, felons [like
Epstein] are considered high risk and require additional approval,”
according to a court submission by the U.S. Virgin Islands against
JPMorgan in federal court in New York. JPMorgan settled the case for $75
million in 2023.
JPMorgan,
which has denied knowledge of Epstein's crimes, declined to comment.
The bank declined to say when and why it closed Maxwell's accounts.
In
December 2013, David Wassong, then a partner at Soros Private Equity
Partners, introduced Maxwell to UBS, according to an email exchange.
“I
have cced one of my best friends named Ghislaine maxwell (sic). She is
looking for a new wealth manager, and I told her she had to meet you,”
Wassong wrote.
On February 14, 2014, an email with the names redacted urges UBS to “expedite this transition from JPMorgan.”
“Ghislaine
is leaving for over a month next week so she really needs to get this
moved over / paperwork signed before her departure. Also, she would like
to speak to you to introduce herself, etc,” the email reads.
In
response, UBS representatives said they had reviewed documents
submitted by her and had some follow-up questions as they processed the
move to the bank.
Wassong did not respond to a request for comment about his dealings with Maxwell.
Soon
after, UBS had opened an account and Maxwell used it for her personal
expenses and businesses, including her charity TerraMar Project, as well
as for entities called Ellmax, Pot & Kettle, Max Foundation and Max
Hotel Services, the documents show. As early as February 2014, Maxwell
had nearly $2 million in one of her UBS accounts.
Maxwell
instructed the bank on how to move her cash. In one request in 2016,
Maxwell asked the bank to make a $2.5 million payment to Scott
Borgerson, to whom she was married that year.
On
July 22, 2019, 16 days after Epstein's arrest, UBS moved $130,000 on
Maxwell's request from her savings to her checking account to help pay
an American Express card bill, the documents show.
Borgerson did not reply to a LinkedIn message requesting comment.
On
August 16, 2019, the month after Epstein’s arrest, UBS received a Grand
Jury Subpoena on Maxwell, according to a letter from UBS to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. UBS provided the FBI with information on wire
transfers, according to the letter.
Reuters could not determine when – and if – UBS had closed Maxwell’s accounts.
Reporting by Elisa Martinuzzi, Nivedita Balu and John O'Donnell. Additional reporting by Tatiana Bautzer. Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Anna Driver
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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