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BackIn the European Union, about 60 million people over 18 do not have a personal bank account. This has negative consequences for the people affected as an account is often a requirement for getting a job or for signing a tenement agreement. Apart from that, paying bills without having an account is, due to high bank charges, a pretty expensive matter. This week, however, the European Parliament has adopted a Directive proposal on payment accounts, which shall make access to a personal account significantly easier.
Rapporteur Jürgen Klute of the European Left now demands in the name of the European Parliament that all Member States must have at least one bank, where people can open a personal account.
In addition, banks have to provide comprehensive information on their fees, including charges for those services for payment accounts, which have been recorded in the list of the most representative services, as described in the report of the European Parliament. Apart from that, following the considerations of MEPs, financial service providers shall also be obliged to provide, free of charge, information on charges and interest rates for the account in question at least once a year.
Jürgen Klute also suggests creating websites of independent sources, which shall enable a comparison of costs for various payment account services.
Following the vote in the European Parliament, the Council wants to reach an agreement on the Directive proposal within the next weeks.
In addition, banks have to provide comprehensive information on their fees, including charges for those services for payment accounts, which have been recorded in the list of the most representative services, as described in the report of the European Parliament. Apart from that, following the considerations of MEPs, financial service providers shall also be obliged to provide, free of charge, information on charges and interest rates for the account in question at least once a year.
Jürgen Klute also suggests creating websites of independent sources, which shall enable a comparison of costs for various payment account services.
Following the vote in the European Parliament, the Council wants to reach an agreement on the Directive proposal within the next weeks.