appropriation of one's good name? Once again, the Bank of Bermuda's name and reputation appear to have been appropriated, without authorisation, by companies in the Internet gaming industry.

The bank has repeatedly and categorically denied that it is conducting e-commerce with the gaming industry. The charges were levelled in Offshore Alert, a faxed newsletter originating in Miami, devoted to exposing what it sees as the darker side of the offshore financial services industry.

Publisher David Marchant, a former Bermuda-based journalist, alerted the bank in October that he had received certain information.

Bank denies Internet gaming links The information was that "more than a dozen websites claiming to be licensed in Antigua and Venezuela have been informing gamblers for several months that they can open up accounts by wire transferring funds to the Bank of Bermuda.'' Michael Collins, the bank's senior vice president, corporate banking, wrote to Mr. Marchant to refute the charges. Mr. Collins has made a copy of his letter available to The Royal Gazette .

In the letter, Mr. Collins says, inter alia : "We do not currently provide services to the on-line gaming industry ... while there is probably a significant growth potential in the on-line gaming industry, it is not something the Bank of Bermuda is involved in ... We do not offer electronic e-commerce services to entities involved in the gaming industry.'' The Bermuda Government, keen to encourage self-regulation of the burgeoning e-commerce market, has defined gambling as one of a handful of activities Bermuda-based e-commerce service providers may not provide.

Luis Douglas, the bank's executive vice president, corporate clients, reiterated the bank's position to this newspaper. "I can categorically state that it is the policy of the bank to not do e-commerce business with the gaming industry. Those Internet sites that are using our name are doing so without our authorisation and we have taken steps to ensure that our name is removed from them,'' Mr. Douglas said.

Mr. Marchant wrote: "All of the sites mentioning the Bank of Bermuda appear to have been set up by Delaware-registered Starnet Communications International Inc., which is physically headquartered in Vancouver.'' Starnet is a company deep in trouble. Its shares have recently plummeted from $15 to $3 and the company's shareholders have brought a class-action suit against management for misleading them about the true nature of the company's business.

In its annual filing with the Stock Exchange, Starnet claimed to have a relationship with the Bank of Bermuda and six other major banks.

Among the company's major shareholders, Mr. Marchant said, is Clare Roberts, the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda from 1994 to 1997.