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FrankfortA few weeks ago, Sparkbade Bochum caused a sensation. This has limited the acceptance of cash – confirming a trend: banks no longer like cash. It's too much work for them.
Customers already like it. They still pay most of their cash purchases at the store, even though their respective sums are down. According to the figures of the Bundesbank, the share of cash payments was about three quarters. Calculated in terms of volume, it still achieves a little less than half the money moving in German trade.
At the Sparkbade Bochum, customers can no longer deposit or withdraw coins and bank notes at any branch. This is only possible in 34 of the 45 branches. In the rest, it is only vending machines. In addition, there are the costs anyway.
The limit, to which the deposit is free, is at the Bochumer savings box with 50 coins. For larger sums, customers pay three percent of the amount they give in pieces, but at least € 7.50 per Safebag – it's a plastic bag in which loose pieces are distributed. At the machine, the deposit costs 3%, but at least four euros.
The example shows: You can create a service that goes without saying, which belongs directly to the account, also very complicated. The deposit of money is not popular with banks: it works and pays little. Many financial institutions therefore limit their service or charge fees, often a combination of both. Only five of the twenty credit institutions surveyed by Handelsblatt make free cash payments for private customers.
The Sparda-Bank Hannover has gone particularly far. Since the beginning of the year, customers have been able to deposit coins only in four of the 22 branches – but for free. At Berliner Volksbank, the largest bank in Germany, up to € 99.99 per month can be paid for free per customer. For larger amounts, a commission of 5.5% of the total amount is due.
The Sparkbade Hannover requires for sums greater than 50 euros the price of 6.50 euros by Safebag. Deutsche Bank says again: You can deposit up to 50 pieces in bulk daily for free. In addition, a fee of five euros per box and 30 cents per piece is due. The limit at the Frankfurter Volksbank is 20 euros per day.
Hamburger Sparkbade uses another model: anyone with a current account called Haspa-Joker, which costs 7.90 euros per month, will not be charged extra for Münzservice. Other customers can deposit for free up to five coin rolls and five safety deposit boxes per month. After that, the Sparkbade calculates 20 cents per roll of coins and 3.50 euros per security bag. The imagination of the fee structure seems to be particularly large with cash transactions.
After all: in the 35 branches of the Bundesbank, you can exchange notes for free. It is also possible to deposit in cash for a fee of three euros for the authorities or charitable organizations with an account with the Bundesbank.
More expensive are the machines of the American company Coinstar. In front of the 279 national supermarkets of the Real channel are the blue devices. They swallow money and take out a receipt that can be used in the store for shopping or exchanged for larger bills. But it costs 9.9% of the total.
The piggy bank is spared
According to consumer advocates, customers should have the opportunity to deposit money, at least to a limited extent, for free on their account. "Since a current account is used to keep money, there has to be a possibility of depositing it on a commercial scale," says Gerrit Cegielka of the Bremen Consumer Center.
The "commercial scope" is not measured by the amount, but by the effort. Consumer advocates see the limit at 50 pieces. In addition, "it only belongs to the bank to decide if and in what amount of fees are charged," Cegielka said.
Many banks have increased their fees in recent years and claim that cash management has become more expensive in recent years. This is also because they have to check the authenticity and workability of the parts for three years and use new test machines or external service providers. A 2015 EU regulation requires it: a test machine costs between 10,000 and 15,000 euros, says a spokesman for the Association of German Co-operative Banks.
Another consequence of the EU regulation: according to these reviews, the reissue of the rolls of coins directly from the branch to other customers is no longer possible, according to Sparkbade Bochum. The deposited documents must be transported to the main office.
Sparkbade declares that approximately 60% of the delivered parts are not returned to customers and must therefore be transported to the Bundesbank. "The return to the branches represents as many roles as branch orders for their customers," said the spokesperson.
But banks can not pbad on their costs indefinitely to their customers. At least this indicates a dispute between consumer advocates and BBBank. Consumer advocates filed a lawsuit against the cooperative financial corporation in 2017 because they felt the flat fee of € 7.50 for cash payments was too high.
A few months ago, the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe (Az 17 U 147/17) decided that the price of BBBank was illegal. It lacks a conclusive statement from the bank, which could "justify the perception of a commission of 7.50 euros for each deposit of money".
The pressure of consumer advocates has paid off: BBBank has already decided in January 2018 to change the cost of depositing coins at the counter. Since then, 50 pieces can be paid for free and, in addition, the price is less than half, ie only three euros.
After all: for some client groups, most credit institutions are accommodating. Children and teens who wish to shoot down their piggy banks and deposit money on their account usually do not have to expect fees even if they exceed the free deposit limits declared with their savings. This also applies to various charities. It's a bit like before: the cash deposit fees were unthinkable.
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