The Comptroller General of the Republic, through its Delegate for Public Management and Financial Institutions, concluded a Financial Audit of the National Savings Fund (FNA), for the period 2023, where They determined nine findings, two of which have a fiscal impact worth $1.97 billion, Three have disciplinary scope and one finding gives rise to a Preliminary Investigation -IP worth $391.47 million.
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Detection of fraud and deficiencies in the management of severance pay and the collection of mortgage loans at the FNA
The Comptroller General of the Republic identified irregularities in the National Savings Fund (FNA) during the 2023 period. Firstly, irregularities were detected Four fraudulent withdrawals of severance pay through in-person channels at the Barranquilla service point, for a total of $252.44 million. These withdrawals were made by impersonating the consumer with false documents, which shows failures in verification and control procedures.
From elsewhere, 27 cases of fraudulent withdrawals of severance pay through virtual channels were reported, carried out through the improper updating of personal data, which allowed unauthorized transactions worth $391.47 million, in light of this particular case the CGR has requested the opening of a preliminary investigation to to establish those allegedly responsible for these irregularities.
Additionally, the audit revealed significant deficiencies in the mortgage debt collection management, with a finding amounting to $1.717 million due to 15 prescribed obligations. “These deficiencies are due to the lack of execution of the exchange action and judicial collection within the legal period of three years. Among the weaknesses found, the absence of all the securities necessary to initiate judicial collection and the lack of application of established procedures for the cancellation and replacement of securities stand out.” they explain.
FNA Fair
Private file
They add that, at a general level, The FNA did not carry out the judicial collection process because it did not have guarantees for the mortgage loans indicatedThis is due to deficiencies in the execution of processes related to the constitution, custody and control of guarantees.
Guarantees that cannot be enforced
Regarding the guarantees of mortgage and educational loans, they identified a finding with disciplinary impact given that there are 468 credit obligations disbursed between 1993 and 2023, with a capital balance of $21,159 million, of which the FNA does not have all of them. guarantees in physical custody (deeds, promissory notes)letter of instructions, among others). Of these obligations, 464 correspond to mortgage loans and four to educational loans.
“Such a situation creates a risk in the recovery of said resources by not being able to make effective the guarantees due to their absence, in the event that the credits become delinquent for more than 180 and 90 days for mortgage and educational credits, respectively. It also produces administrative wear and tear for the FNA and/or an additional cost by having to hire personnel to carry out activities aimed at achieving the replacement of the lost securities,” they say.
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FNA
FNA
They add that this deficiency is recurrent, and despite the fact that the FNA has an improvement action contemplated in the Improvement Plan expiring on December 31, 2023, the audit concluded that That Improvement Plan was Ineffective, with an effectiveness percentage of 0%, Because the actions were not fully executed and, furthermore, the actions did not correct the causes that led to the findings, since new findings were found with the same causes.
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In this way, the Comptroller General of the Republic recommends that the FNA review and improve its procedures for Virtual and In-Person Severance Pay Withdrawals, as well as the Cancellation and Replacement of Securities of the guarantees that prevent the collection of credits; to ensure effective and timely management of public resources, thereby avoiding future losses to assets and guaranteeing the protection of State assets.
Paula Galeano Balaguera
Portfolio Journalist
