Belgium to Prohibit Banks Requiring Current Accounts for Savings Accounts

2024-02-12 07:34:00

Banks that prevent customers from opening a savings account without a current account may soon no longer be able to do so. Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy, wants to pass a law to prohibit this practice.

He explained, speaking to Martin Buxant, that this aims above all to improve competition: “This is based on an observation made by the Belgian competition authority, which estimated that in Belgium, there is not enough competition between the country’s large banks. With prices that are higher than those of our neighbors, services that are often of lower quality than those at home. So, we really need to make competition work better between banks. That customers can more easily change banks. This includes prohibiting the sale of linked accounts.“, justifies the minister.

Pierre-Yves Dermagne therefore clarifies: “Me, I want a Belgian to be able, tomorrow, to open a savings account, without the bank forcing them to take out a current account and other banking products“.

When will this measure be applicable? Before the elections, assures Martin Buxant’s guest: “The desire is to be able to have this voted on in the House before the elections“, he said, adding that the majority is behind it.

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