KEY POINTS

  • Two of the people responsible for Donald Trump's $300 million loan from Deutsche Bank have resigned without explanation
  • Manhattan's DA is investigating that interaction, and a real estate sale involving Jared Kushner is under internal review
  • Two other people involved with Trump's Deutsche Bank dealings have killed themselves, one as recently as last year

The banker responsible for Deutsche Bank’s $300 million loan to Donald Trump has abruptly resigned amid investigations from both Deutsche Bank and government prosecutors. No official reason was given, but another banker involved in the Trump real estate loan also resigned.

Rosemary Vrablic was a senior banker with Deutsche Bank’s wealth management division who, along with Dominic Scalzi, secured $300 million for Donald Trump in 2011 to fund various real estate projects. She’s been with the bank for almost 15 years.

Those loans are under investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney.

Deutsche began to lend to Trump in 1998 after he failed to receive loans from other financial agencies due to his poor business record. The New York Times noted in February that Deutsche had lent Trump more than $2 billion over the course of two decades.

Vrablic also dealt with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. A real estate deal she made with him in 2013 is under investigation internally by Deutsche Bank for possible conflicts of interest after she purchased a home from a company Kushner had a stake in, the New York Times reported.

Deutsche Bank says that details in a report by investigative journalists on money laundering are "well known to our regulators"
Deutsche Bank says that details in a report by investigative journalists on money laundering are "well known to our regulators" AFP / Daniel ROLAND

Neither Vrablic nor Deutsche Bank offered a reason for her resignation beyond her being ready for retirement.

Statements from the bank and Vrablic confirmed the resignation but did not provide additional details.

“Rosemary Vrablic and Dominic Scalzi have tendered their resignations to Deutsche Bank effective as of year-end, which was accepted by the bank,” said a spokesperson.

Trump’s loans come due in 2023 and 2024, and if Trump can’t pay them back the contract allows Deutsche Bank to start seizing his property. Deutsche Bank has roughly $340 million in loans outstanding to the Trump Organization.

The Financial Times in May wrote that "Donald Trump’s relationship with Deutsche Bank has lasted longer than any of his marriages and is cloaked in more secrecy."

In the last six years, there have also been two Deutsche executives linked to Trump who killed themselves. In November 2019, a former Deutsche executive who signed off on risky loans to Trump killed himself at his Southern California home. Another Trump-related analyst at Deutsche Bank hung himself in 2014.