Vooruit supports opposition to the reduction of ATMs
The Batopin project, which provides for a universal banking service, is “much too noncommittal”, says federal party leader Melissa Depraetere from Harelbeke.
The four major banks Belfius, BNP Paribas Fortis, ING and KBC have jointly set up the Batopin project. This should provide for neutral ATMs, distributed throughout the territory. But Test Aankoop, the elderly organization Okra and Financité, a non-profit organization that strives for financial inclusion, fear that many people will no longer have access to an ATM. They are also concerned about the fees that banks will be able to charge for cash withdrawals at Batopin ATMs. The organizations ask to temporarily freeze the project and impose more obligations on the banks.
That call follows. “We see that banks do not comply with this. The result: fewer and fewer counters, fewer bank branches and fewer ATMs,” says party leader Melissa Depraetere. “It is becoming more difficult to access basic services such as account statements and cash. Isn’t that absurd?” In concrete terms, a “minimum range of services” must be provided in each (sub) municipality, says Depraetere, who is also submitting a bill. “If it doesn’t work out with an agreement, the Minister of Economy Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS) must legislate it,” she says.
Dermagne indicated last week that the Belgian competition authority is conducting an investigation into Batopin. The PS deputy prime minister has previously been critical of the plans of the four major banks.