Kabul Bank, Mohammed Karzai, Sherkhan Farnood and Palm Jumeirah

Photograph Ivanlo  Released to the Public Domain 

How often do you hear about companies that advertise services that they really don't offer?  Where managements talk the talk but don't walk the walk?

Well, that's not the case at Kabul Bank where management takes seriously the slogan "The Easiest Way to Earn Millions" as we learn from Bradley Hope over at The National.

And what could be easier than real estate investments in Dubai, particularly in the prestigious Palm Jumeirah development.

One chap made a quick AED3 million, though he can't remember what he did with it.

And what can you say about a Chairman who's so solicitous of his bank's investments that he registers them in his and his wife's name?  No doubt in order to keep a close personal eye on them?  Sadly now, the former Chairman due to some onerous new banking regulations in Afghanistan. 

16 or so villas on Palm J and two plots of land in Business Bay reportedly worth some US$150 million.

As per KB's 31 December 2008 financials (the latest posted on its website), that amount being twice the Bank's shareholders' equity and 21% of total assets (assuming of course that the properties are reflected in the balance sheet).