Continuity: Government backs PS text aimed at abolishing bank fees

The manager agrees with PS. The government supports the abolition of bank fees on some inheritances, carried out by Socialist MPs as part of their Assembly day set for February 29, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday. The proposed law provides, in particular, for the abolition of fees for closing accounts and the payment of amounts appearing in them to the heir if the deceased is a minor or when the amounts involved are less than 5,000 euros.

The text, introduced by PS MP Cristina Pires Bon, is on the agenda in the socialist “parliamentary niche” after it was adopted unanimously in committee with the support of the majority as well as other oppositions. “Let’s not add to the pain” of losing a loved one a lack of humanity, the Minister of Economy and Finance wrote on X (ex-Twitter), indicating that he supported the initiative and “worked” with the elected socialist.

The Minister cites in his message the case of Leo, who “was 9 years old when he died of cancer”: “after this terrible news, the parents who had lost their child asked their bank to close booklet A of their child” and “He then wrote off €138.20″ . in bank fees.” “As Minister of Economy, I find this disgusting. As a father, I find this unacceptable,” he added.

“Help with rewriting”

The ministry’s support “has translated into helping to rewrite the text so that it is as clean and effective as possible,” said Christine Pires Bohn, who wants parliamentarians to join the decree implementing the text as soon as it is adopted.

In addition to cases of benefit payments, the bill provides for controls on inheritance costs exceeding €5,000. “Knowing that we could very well have much more than €5,000 and be part of a very simple operation, in which case it should also be free,” she explained.

The MP regrets that the banking sector is “not very cooperative” on this issue. “I’m surprised by the lack of aggregated data” to quantify those costs, she said. “Some banks already apply free commissions,” but “you can have institutions, funds from the same group that do not apply the same commissions for the same amounts,” the deputy added, considering it necessary to ensure greater transparency in legislation.