From 19 June actually every citizen has the right to a checking account. This applies particularly for refugees and the homeless. But it is becoming apparent that even on Monday, when the new law applies and open the stores after the weekend its doors again, not everyone gets an account. Because it still continues Banks want to know anything about a free account assignment is missing an important regulation.
. “Check decisions about opening an account and we meet as far always in an individual case,” it says at Deutsche Bank. We’ll keep course to the statutory requirements. However, one must simultaneously satisfy the money-laundering provisions. A clear identification by appropriate identity documents is therefore also necessary in the future before any account opening. Commerzbank and Targobank made similar on request.
The problem is: No one knows exactly what papers are sufficient for setting up an account. Especially with civil war refugees, it happens again and again that they have no official identity more, with which they could identify themselves clearly. The exact procedure shall be specified in the so-called identity verification Regulation. But the leaves are still waiting for.
This not only at banks for discontent. Even consumer advocates criticize the continued lack of legal certainty. “The current unclear legal situation makes it difficult for an estimated 450,000 refugees, a basic account,” says Klaus Müller, Chairman of the Federation of Consumer Organizations. therefore His association urge the responsible federal ministry promptly suggest how the examination of the identification of refugees is designed so that these people could open a basic bank account.
A special pass was for refugees not long necessary
the Financial Supervisory Authority had, as the flow of refugees continues to swell, relaxing the requirements for opening an account in August of last year by circular letter. Since it was sufficient if a fugitive was able to submit a registration certificate with official letterhead, photo of the fugitive and the seal of the immigration office.
A separate passport or official identity card replacement in order to identify a new customer without doubt, were no longer necessary. Many banks is this communicated via circular control to unsafe , In the fall of the then Bank President and German Bank Co-CEO Juergen Fitschen warned that banks access to payments not likely grant negligent manner.
“The discussion would assume equal another tonality if it turned out that has been created by a lack of controls for persons access to the payments that it will abuse, “he said at the time. Behind this is the fear of penalties abroad, if such an account, for example, terrorist attacks financed.
The horror scenario of a banking perspective goes like this: Someone moves without card or passport asylum under a false name obtains a Certificate of Registration, opened an account, the then sums abroad will be paid for terrorist activities.
600,000 people are expected in this country be without checking account
The leaders of many a major bank know how sensitive just the United States to their view lax handling of international agreements. So the French bank BNP Paribas had to pay nearly nine billion dollars because of sanctions violations, Commerzbank was occupied early 2015 by American overseers because Iran business with a fine in the amount of 1.45 billion dollars. The German bank had a nine-figure sum.
estimated that in Germany 600,000 people have an account, they may yet send no money by bank transfer or receive, not pay by direct debit, they have no credit card. These people can not fully participate in the social and economic life, as the advocates of a current account for anyone say repeatedly.
Since 1995, for the establishment of so-called everyman’s accounts in Germany a commitment by the banks. In September 2012, the financial institutions have issued a statement to citizens account and undertakes for each resident in its area by owner on request at least keep a credit account – regardless of citizenship or nationality.
To date can private banks, as well as cooperative banks refuse to open an account. Only the public savings banks are subject to a final penalty. With the payment account model now all financial institutions are obliged to set up homeless if desired, the so-called basic account. This is a pure credit account, it must not slip into the red.
Anyone can seek judicial review of refusal for free
Denied a bank a potential customer to open an account, this may apply to the Financial Supervisory Authority, or to the appropriate complaint bodies of the banking industry. “Should an institution refuse to set up a basic bank account, or should terminate a basic payment account, is like with the current account for everyone unchanged the opportunity to review this decision by the competent Customer Complaints Office – and the free and fast,” says the Association of German Banks .
In addition to the basic payment account, the law stipulates that banks their account fees have to publish so the future that even consumers without special technical knowledge can easily compare the different offers. In addition, customers will exchange the bank be facilitated. The rules around the main account contact a quarter into force earlier than the rest of the payment accounts Law.
“Because of the well-known practice of private banks and individual public service financial institutions”, especially the homeless and refugees, even after the entry into force of the payment accounts directive such an account further refuse, urgent action is needed, it said in the bill. The banking industry, however, had not insisted last because of the lack of identity verification Regulation on more time for the implementation of the basic payment account. All arrangements should enter into force until 18 September 2016th Politicians chose the temporal dichotomy.
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