2005
DSB is granted a licence to become a private bank. Up to then Dirk Scheringa has owned a number of loan companies. He has been criticised for misleading advertising in the past.

Beginning of 2009
The DSB bank becomes the subject of controversy. Customers have complained on TV programmes Radar and Nova about the large mortgage loans which come decked out with ever-changing single premium insurance policies designed to pay off the original loan.

March 2009
The Authority for the Financial Markets launches an investigation into DSB's products.

May 2009
Former defence minister Frank de Grave resigns as the bank's financial director. The previous occupant of the post was former finance minister Gerrit Zalm, who spent 18 months with DSB. Both are prominent conservative VVD party members.

Early July 2009
The AFM fines DSB a total of 120,000 euros for its credit policy. The authority finds that staff at the bank were given too much leeway to agree large and risky loans. Bert Oude Middeldorp, chair of the Mortgage Grievances Foundation, says the ruling comes as a relief.

Late September 2009
A number of former DSB employees talk frankly about the bank's aggressive sales practices on the NOS public broadcasting service programme Nova.

A majority of the Lower House of the Dutch parliament wants Finance Minister Wouter Bos to find out whether DSB's policy was indeed to sell as many unnecessary single premium insurance policies as possible. The commissions calculated for the policies amounted to between 80 and 90 percent. Minister Bos calls it a scandal.

Mr Bos launches an investigation into DSB's sales practices and the role of senior management. He says there is no way of outlawing these practices. Socialist Party MP Ewout Irrgang argues that the minister has not gone far enough.

Thursday 1 October
Pieter Lakeman of the Mortgage Grievances Foundation calls on DSB customers to withdraw their money from the bank. At this point DSB has a liquidity of 1.8 million euros. DSB has 700 million euros of this at its disposal. The rest, 1.1 billion euros, is in the central bank bail-out fund.

Minister Bos says he regards Mr Lakeman's actions as irresponsible. Shortly after Mr Lakeman’s appeal, customers on DSB's online site find they are no longer able to transfer money. DSB announces the site has been brought down by hackers.

Saturday 3 October
Dirk Scheringa reacts in person for the first time. He offers his apologies to the bank's customers.

Pieter Lakeman accuses the Dutch central bank, DNB, of "complicity" in conning people who bought insurance from DSB.

Sunday 4 October
The DSB Bank and the Support Fund for Problem Mortgages Foundation reach agreement about the way in which the complaints surrounding the bank should be handled.

By no means all its customers are satisfied. Despite this agreement and Dirk Scheringa's apologies, any confidence in DSB has evaporated.

Monday 5 October
Dirk Scheringa and Chief Operating Officer Hans van Goor fails to turn up during a live programme to sign the agreement. At the time they say the bank’s board of directors needs more time to study the agreement. Later Mr van Goor says they were prevented by the Dutch central bank from signing because the deal could force other bank’s with similar financial constructions to follow suit. The central bank has denied having any part in this turn of events

Tuesday 6 October
The bank's situation deteriorates after the Dutch central bank, DNB, withdraws 800 million euros from its bail out fund, which is more than the amount that customers had up to then removed from their accounts. By the weekend DSB is forced to request assistance from the central bank.

Thursday 8 October
DSB top and Support Fund for Problem Mortgages Foundation reiterate willingness to sign an agreement on current affairs TV programme Nova, but DSB still refuses to sign.

Saturday 10 October
An attempt to save the bank by a consortium of five other Dutch banks fails.

Sunday 11 October
An Amsterdam court rules that DSB has enough solvency and liquidity to continue.

Monday 12 October
Leaks over the weekend's crisis meetings in de Volkskrant newspaper prompt savers to empty their accounts en masse. During a second court sitting, DSB is forced into receivership.

Tuesday 13 October
An emergency debate is held in the Lower House over the DSB affair. Finance Minister Wouter Bos faces hundreds of questions over why the Dutch central bank and the Financial Markets Authority did not intervene earlier.

Wednesday 14 October
Trade union De Unie says there is a potential bidder to take over the bank. However, the curators say that although there have been converstions with possible takeover candidates, all have now withdrawn. They say they see bankruptcy as inevitable.

DSB boss Dirk Scheringa informs DSB employees of the curators’ decision in an emotional meeting.

Thursday 15 October
The court postpones a decision on DSB’s bankruptcy. DSB is given until 12.00pm on Friday 16 October to seek a bidder.

Friday 16 October
In talks with Dirk Scheringa at the Dutch central bank, DNB, ending after midnight on Friday 16 October, a mooted consortium of major Dutch banks concludes that a takeover is unfeasible. However, the court agrees to extend the bankruptcy deadline yet again until 9.00am, Monday 19 October, to give Mr Scheringa the chance to explore a possible takeover by a US investor.

Saturday 17 October
Financial specialist Adriaan Dorrepaal proposes a so-called ‘plan B’ to rescue the bank, whereby savers who would otherwise lose their deposits - those with more than 100,000 euros in their accounts or with subordinated deposits - would be granted shares in the bank in lieu of up to a third of their savings. However, the scheme would also require a government bailout of 100 million euros.

Sunday 18 October
Negotiations with a possible US investor, reportedly Texan private equity firm Lone Star, come to nothing. The finance ministry makes it clear it is not prepared to provide the 100 million euro capital injection envisaged in ‘plan B’.

Monday 19 October
At 9.00am, an Amsterdam court declares the DSB Bank bankrupt.