Bank fees paid by customers in a fragile financial situation fell in 2020, welcomed Thursday the Observatory for banking inclusion (OIB), chaired by the Banque de France, also stressing that the detection of this type of audience has improved.
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In detail, the average annual amount of bank charges paid by these customers fell again, by seven euros, to stand at 248 euros for the whole of 2020, a decrease of 3% over one year. and 18% over two years, details the observatory, made up of representatives of the State, the banking sector and associations.
With regard to banking incident costs alone, the amount fell again, by 5%, to an average of 143 euros compared to 151 euros in 2019. “
Thus, in 2020, nearly 60% of identified customers as fragile on December 31 and having suffered incidents saw their costs decrease due to the application
”of a certain number of commitments on the part of banking establishments, rejoices the Observatory.
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"
The OIB report shows the effectiveness of the measures put in place by banks, public authorities, associations and social actors, for the budgetary management of financially fragile people
", reacted for its part the French Banking Federation in a statement.
Under pressure from the State, the banks had undertaken to limit from 2019 the costs of banking incidents to 25 euros per month for fragile customers and to 20 euros per month and 200 euros per year for customers benefiting from the 'specific offer, a basic banking service billed at a maximum of three euros per month.
Available since October 2014 for people in precarious financial situations, the specific offer includes basic banking services billed at a maximum of three euros per month.
This offer was little in demand for a long time, mainly because of the little publicity done by the banks.
12% increase in the number of “
fragile
”
customers
But the trend is starting to reverse under the combined pressure of the banking supervisor and the State in recent years to better promote it.
In addition, the Banking Inclusion Observatory notes progress in the detection of clients in financially fragile situations.
"
The evolution and greater convergence of the criteria used by banks have favored earlier detection: thus, 86% of customers identified as fragile in 2020 were identified as precautionary criteria, based in particular on the analysis of the operation of the account,
”explains the organization.
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In total, the number of customers identified as fragile is, given these extended criteria, up 12% as of December 31, 2020. At that date, 3.8 million individuals benefited from the protection measures attached to this detection.
