The amendment will be incorporated into the draft law on the National Customs Code, currently pending approval, and is scheduled for a vote in the Plenary Session on Thursday.
The five principal changes introduced are as follows:
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Elimination of fees for bank customers withdrawing from ATMs of other banks participating in DIAS
The commission fee, ranging from €1.50 to €2.00, which until now has been charged to depositors when withdrawing cash not only from their own bank’s ATM but also from any ATM of other banks within the DIAS network, will be completely abolished.
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No fees for withdrawals from ATMs operated by providers in which the bank holding the customer’s account has a shareholding interest
If the bank where the customer holds an account maintains a shareholding relationship with an ATM operator, withdrawals from that provider’s ATMs will be exempt from any fees.
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Fee cap of €1.50 on all other ATM withdrawal charges (e.g., foreign banks not participating in DIAS) and charges by third-party providers
A maximum fee of €1.50 will be imposed. Currently, fees for such transactions can reach or even exceed €5.
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Free withdrawals in municipalities with only one available ATM, whether bank-owned or provider-operated
In all municipal communities where there is only one ATM—regardless of whether it is bank-owned or operated by a third party—cash withdrawals will be free of charge. This extends the existing regulation, which applied only to banks, to include third-party operators as well.
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Free balance inquiries and alignment of ATM providers’ fees with banks’ charges for transfers
Charges for balance inquiries at ATMs, whether bank-owned or provider-operated, will be completely eliminated.
Additionally, ATM providers will be subject to the same regulatory framework as banks concerning incoming and outgoing transfers, with a fee cap of €0.50.
As Mr. Pierrakakis emphasized, for the first time, zero fees for withdrawals from the bank where a citizen holds an account will be legally enshrined, ensuring institutional protection for this right going forward.
This package of measures aims to enhance transparency, reduce the cost of fundamental banking services, and restore equitable access to cash and basic banking transactions for citizens.
