Even the homeless and refugees future customers – MDR

Once a day acts worker Sebastian Stockmann also as a banker. The staff at the Leipzig days gathering for homeless namely introduces suspense for 50 homeless. He quoted the cash receipts of social services and paying any amount from the cash register. That makes Sebastian Stockmann, because the person concerned is either not be able to independently maintain an account or far none have received from the banks – simply because they have no home address. That changes now: All banks must also homeless set up a checking account. Sebastian Stockmann welcomes: “We live in the 21st century checking accounts are standard in payment transactions This is a form of participation that should be guaranteed…”

Voluntary compliance has not been implemented

Around 400,000 people in Germany, according to estimates of the German banking industry currently without a checking account – and that, although the banks had already in 1995 voluntarily committed to give all people a checking account. However, the implementation was flawed. Now the federal government has laid down a statutory entitlement and therefore implemented a requirement of the European Commission. Everyone who wanted to have an account, must be able to get one. Some banks were of little excited. Because if you would, for example, prevent money laundering, one must be able to identify bank customers clearly, so the criticism.

40 million Europeans have an account

For the Leipzig Sparkasse is the EU law not a problem, says press spokesman Frank Steinmeyer. The Institute offers since years “account for everyone” to: “By 2012, the savings banks have to set up such an account respect, it would not necessarily been necessary to such a law, in our view, but it’s a transposition of EU.. Directives into national law and the situation in Europe is quite different. the number people who can get an account, is significantly higher in other countries. ” Up to 40 million people in Europe would not have an account, so Steinmeyer. Germany was comparatively well by everyone account the savings banks. As with all banks the Everyman account at the Sparkasse a basic bank account: For credit can be managed, a scheduling and a credit card, there is not usually. Who wants to open such a basic bank account, only has to submit an identity card. Refugees need appropriate proof papers.

Some customers may still be rejected

Despite the new rules could also be interested but rejected explains Kerstin Altendorf, spokeswoman for the German banking industry. The see the payment account model before: “The most important reason for refusal is that the applicant does not account needy That is:… If he already has a basic bank account, he does not need a second or he does not want to use as a consumer, but as a business customer The basic account is aimed to consumers. or he has committed an intentional crime in relation to the Bank or conflicts with the money laundering law. Even then it may be rejected. ”

While this is true, the Everyone Account Law for Germany, other EU states have until 18 September. time to implement the requirements.