Following the POST Luxembourg’s takeover of the tariff policy of Luxembourg banks favouring online operations rather than over-the-counter operations, the Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtleche Gewerkschaftsbond (LCGB) trade union has expressed concern regarding free access to local banking services, which remain an integral part everyday life.
The LCGB regrets that, through this pricing policy, operations at paying ATMs have nevertheless evolved to become the standard rather than the exception across the sector. However, the progressive digitisation of banking operations penalises those who have little or no possibility to follow this rapid progression of daily life.
Among those affected are those who do not have the financial means to acquire the necessary technical equipment, across all age groups. Likewise, those who, for various reasons from age to disability, do not have the know-how to carry out the operations online, are disadvantaged in the same way.
Not only does this widen the gap between different sectors of the population, but it may also negatively impact society, as banks impose additional costs to vulnerable people who have little choice but to go to the shops for basic banking services, such as transfers, withdrawals or deposits.
The LCGB thus considers this to be neglectful of the needs of one part of the banking clientele, who are being overlooked by financial decision-makers. The LCGB is committed to an inclusive client approach instead of the current exclusive pricing policy.
In this respect, the LCGB has sought interviews with the Minister for Family, Integration and the Greater Region and the Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Consumer Protection and the Association of Banks And Bankers in Luxembourg (ABBL).
