„Why are restrictions on accounts exempt from service fees needed?“. This question was asked from the parliamentary rostrum by the chairman of the BSP PG – UNITED LEFT and deputy chairman of the National Assembly Dragomir Stoynev to the BNB.
He emphasized that in 2024 the banking sector earns 3.7 billion leva, for 2023 – 3.4 billion leva, for 2022 – 2.1 billion leva. “The increase is large and exceeds 67%. The problem is that this is happening at the expense of the people“, the socialist was categorical.
He recalled that in 2023, thanks to the left, it was adopted that pensioners, interns, doctoral students, with one account will not pay fees for its maintenance. “We will want a conversation with the BNB between the first and second readings why so many new accounts are not being opened. Pensioners, interns, doctoral students are entitled to such relief“, he emphasized.
According to him, changes are now being proposed, which state that no fees are charged for regular account maintenance, but a limit of 3 credit transfers and 3 operations for withdrawing money from ATMs of the respective bank is imposed. “I would like to ask the BNB where this limitation comes from. Why should there be only 3 of these operations. There are people who receive their pension and want to withdraw it in cash. It does not say here that the fee for cash withdrawal will be abolished. It remains“, emphasized the chairman of the Left Party.
Stoynev expressed the opinion that the economy should develop, as should the banking sector, and that it is normal to have free withdrawals only from the devices of the bank in which a person has an account, but it is not normal to have a limit on the number of withdrawals. According to him, in the absence of real reasoning for this restriction, it should be abolished between the first and second readings.
Dragomir Stoynev emphasized: "We must ensure that the changes made in 2023 fulfill their purpose - people in difficult financial situations should not be subject to profit from banks, especially given that they earn so much. Why didn't the banks respond so quickly to the opening of such accounts? Perhaps the BNB delayed issuing a regulation that they should have issued.