Anxious Depositors Withdraw Cash From Asian Bank

Throngs of depositors lined up outside the headquarters and branches of the Bank of East Asia here on Wednesday to withdraw their money, highlighting widespread anxiety in Asia that Wall Street’s recent difficulties might spread across the Pacific.

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Depositors who lined up outside the company’s headquarters in the city center said that after the failure of Lehman Brothers, they no longer fully trusted any financial institution. “If a business as big as Lehman can go down, then we’re scared,” said Ann Chan, an off-duty nurse, whose husband had called her Wednesday afternoon and sent her to wait in line to withdraw their money.