In mid-September, six banks announced that they were freezing the prices of their products and services in 2023. Did they keep their word? We went to check.
No increases above 2% in 2023 on the main tariff lines: this is the promise made by the banking sector on September 13. A modest response to Bruno Le Maire’s request. The Minister of the Economy wanted to see the banking groups, which have recorded record profits for two years, make a gesture intended for their vulnerable customers by inflation.
Six establishments went further by announcing the freezing of their rates in 2023. It includes La Banque Postale and Crdit Coopratif, two brands that have long had a moderate price policy, but also BNP Paribas, LCL, Socit Gnrale and the online bank Fortuneo. Did they keep their word?
The banks that will freeze their bank rates in 2023
A sprain and some drops
The latest tables published by these banks confirm that, concerning the most representative tariff lines, they have put their words into action. Only sprain, the Societe Generale plans to increase by 14% (from 7 to 8 euros) the cost of an occasional transfer initiated in a branch. This will probably not concern many people, most transfers now being initiated (free) online or on mobile, but it is nevertheless an operation included in the representative tariffs.
For the rest, the brands even tend to post price reductions. BNP Paribas, notably. The Parisian bank stops charging for two services that used to be paid for: instant transfers, for private customers with a Free Spirit package (1euro previously), and the reissue of the bank card code (9euros previously). It also lowers the price of a transfer initiated in a branch (from 5 to 3.50 euros) and of the receipt of a non-SEPA transfer (from 19 to 10 euros). Two banks have also reduced the cost of their offers aimed at young people. LCL has lowered the contribution for Visa Clo payment cards (3 euros per month against 3.95 before) and Visa Premier (6 euros against 11.90). the Cooperative creditfor its part, has made its Essentiel Agir package for 18/25 year olds more accessible: from 24 euros per year (2 euros per month), against 36 euros (3 euros per month) before.
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Finally, The postal bank has made a small gesture for vulnerable households, by lowering its monthly ceiling for intervention commissions: from 80 euros, the maximum authorized by the regulations, 75.90 euros.
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