Earlier this year, the banks committed to providing an ATM in every municipality. “Agreements are good, but everyone also knows that major banks do not feel bound by agreements on paper,” says Depraetere. “So we are now proposing to write it into law. I think that banks only understand one language well and that is the language of money, so we are imposing financial sanctions in return.”
Vooruit also wants a vending machine in every village centre, so one per municipality is not sufficient. “The major banks are making 7 billion euros in profit this year and this is offset by less and less service. There must be a basic offering.”