Outgoing Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer has made a bizarre apology for cancelling the work Christmas party while a money-laundering scandal rocks the bank.
The Australian reports Hartzer allegedly sent a staff email on Tuesday confirming the company's Christmas party was cancelled.
He said he was "very sorry" but feared a party would attract more negative press.
On Tuesday Hartzer announced he would resign - six days after Westpac was accused of more than 23 million transactions breaching money-laundering laws by Australia's financial intelligence agency.
The bank also failed to detect payments to child pornographers in the Philippines.
Hartzer said amid the scandal, staff "whooping it up" wouldn't send the right impression.
"Unfortunately in the heightened media environment it will not look good if we have our staff whooping it up with alcohol," he is quoted as saying by The Australian.
The bank is facing fines that could total more than $1 billon, reports ABC News.
