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    Bank charges viewed as unfair practices

    Though an over reaction, late German poet and playwright (18981956) Bertlot Brecht, commented that it “is easier to rob by setting up a bank than by holding up a bank clerk.” Today’s bank charges leave one to wonder as to the reasonableness and fairness of these levies.

    Bank charges viewed as unfair practices
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    N Srinivasan

    Chennai

    The decision of SBI and other nationalised banks to levy minimum balances on SB accounts, ATM withdrawals, operating non home bank accounts really makes one wonder on the need for charging a multitude of small depositors. With government promoted satellites, all banks are networked and daily  book balancing has been centralised, saving banks huge amounts on staff costs. Collection of cheques was a vexatious, time consuming issue. Now, with networking, all this is made easy. One time investment on lockers on which huge depreciation benefits have accrued are another source for hefty hike in charges. 

    When government encourages cashless transactions why should bank charges attract service tax etc.? Finally, another factor related to interest rates. R Gandhi Deputy Governor RBI in a MR Pai Memorial Lecture on September 8, 2015 refers to monetary policy at that time to meet consumer inflation at four, + or - two per cent to keep inflation at bay.He poroceeds to explain Normal interest =Real interest rate (RIR)+Rate of inflation. As RIR is directly proportional to inflation, it can only rise! Is that the case? Has inflation come down? The young government and its think tank had to rethink on these. Banking is a Fiduciary service and customers keep their money and it is mandatory to return it back on agreed terms. Then how is it legal to charge them, citing restrictions on number of withdrawals? Current accounts are classic examples. 

    Banking services should be holistic but we are reminded of the old adage attributed to Mark Twain that,  a banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when it is sunny but demands it back the moment it starts to rain. 

    — The writer is AGM (Retd), State Bank of India

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