Checklist for protection against "Ice-9" for bank customers
- Zener Group
- Jan 23
- 1 min read
"Ice-9" is an operational freeze of an account by a bank without debiting funds. Your money remains on the balance sheet, but access to it is temporarily blocked for verification of transactions.
What is "Ice-9" and why is it important?
The bank may freeze the account for a period of several days to several weeks to verify the source of funds, analyse transactions or comply with compliance requirements. During this time, you cannot make payments, withdraw cash or transfer money — the account is completely frozen.
Why this affects everyone: Any customer can be affected by a freeze, even if their transactions are completely legal. All it takes is an unusual transaction, a large transfer, or a change in transaction patterns.
The purpose of the checklist: Not to avoid checks (this is impossible), but to maintain access to liquidity, even if one bank freezes your account. The right account architecture and having your documents ready allow you to survive a temporary block without stopping your business or personal payments.
Assessment system:
24-30 points — you are ready for "Ice-9", you have backup options for accessing your money
15-23 points — there are vulnerabilities that need to be addressed
0-14 points — critical risk, a single freeze could paralyse your finances
