We no longer present the “Batopin” project. The objective of the new offer from the country’s four major banks (ING, Belfius, BNP Paribas Fortis and KBC) is to gradually phase out bank ATMs and replace them with neutral models that 95% of the population will eventually find , within a radius of 5 km. The partners justify the approach by the ever greater use of electronic banking services and the continuous decline in demand for cash.
A plan that aroused some criticism since, reading between the lines, it meant that the banks were spared the installation of counters in less populated areas (the famous 95%). A situation that had prompted the government to react. Deputy Prime Ministers Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V) and Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS) met with the banks to negotiate this point.
Ultimatum
After several months of discussions, however, the negotiations are at a standstill. And the patience of the De Croo government seems to be exhausted. “Since no progress has been made for weeks, we are setting a deadline for the banks”, comments Pierre-Yves Dermagne in the columns of Belang van Limburg.
Concretely, the four big banks have until the end of the month to accept the government’s proposal, namely ATMs within 2 km in urban areas, within 5 km in rural areas and within 3 kilometers in the “intermediate zones”. “If not, we will oblige them by law to leave enough ATMs. Easy access to his money isn’t too much to ask, is it? Especially for a sector that makes profits of up to 6 billion euros per year, ”insists Pierre-Yves Dermagne.
The banks said they were “totally surprised” by the statements of the Deputy Prime Minister. Febelfin, the spokesperson for the banks, believes that the big Belgian banks “have made constructive proposals and that discussions with the government are progressing”. Answer in less than three weeks.
