Starting next year, services at banks will also be more expensive, with some costs as high as 60 percent.

Based on the first information, these banking services, which are used by virtually everyone with a bank account, will be 15 to 60 percent more expensive next year.

There are 26 banks, 14 payment institutions and two e-money institutions operating in the Serbian market, and one bank has already started sending its clients framework agreements with new rates, which will be valid from March 1, 2021.

In addition, the maintenance of the account from the third month of next year will cost 190 dinars, instead of the previous 160, it is expressed in the document received by customers. For SMS notifications, 100 dinars will be needed instead of 70 per month, and the minimum fee for paying by using a payment card at an ATM or other bank instead of 150 will be 200 dinars, writes Blic .

So in a year, you will pay 2,280 dinars just to keep the account instead of 1,920 dinars above, while SMS notifications will cost 1,200 dinars instead of 840 dinars today in 12 months.

The card replacement service is almost 70 percent more expensive if it is stolen or lost, so instead of 300 it will cost 500 dinars, and a fee has been introduced for checking the balance at an ATM with the help of an 40 dinar credit card.

Other banks also announced changes in rates and correction of certain prices of services. As they affirm, it is already known that there will be certain corrections, but not in which direction ii. Some bankers say that the prices of certain services have fallen, others have increased slightly, while for most services the price has remained unchanged.

For individuals, the rate for instant payments through mobile banking has been reduced from 30 to 20 dinars for transactions of up to 300,000, while the price of this service at the branch has been increased by 0.5 percent of the amount paid at 0.8 percent. The bank continues. it does not charge for non-monetary transfer of funds within the bank ”, they explain in a bank, where the new rates will be applied as of January 18.

Photo: Depositphotos, okuka67

The account maintenance service at the lowest rate for now ranges from 95 dinars to 200 dinars, depending on the bank.

Banks are independent in setting rates

The National Bank of Serbia states that it has no information that financial institutions intend to raise the prices of their fees, but also recalls that banks are not obliged to submit changes in the fees of the services they provide in advance. According to the Payment Services Law, they only have to inform their customers in writing, at least two months in advance.

“The user of the payment service is not obliged to accept the increase in fees for the payment services provided by the bank and may terminate the framework agreement with the bank without paying fees and other costs,” explained the NBS, adding that each bank is independent to decide the price of its services. Since there are currently 26 banks operating in Serbia, it is in everyone’s interest to have a competitive offering. ”

What fees do we pay to banks?

Since March last year, all banks have been obliged to send the price of 14 commissions charged to customers to the National Bank of Serbia, for the purpose of publicly announcing them on the central bank’s website.

Thus, for example, monthly account maintenance costs clients 150 to 350 dinars, for basic account packages, although some banks do not charge this fee.

Check writing is charged up to 20 dinars per check, and the least allowed is still by far the most expensive item charged by bankers in Serbia, ranging from 30 to 40 percent.

Banks also have special fees for receiving money from abroad in a foreign currency account in Serbia, then for mobile and electronic banking services, debit and credit cards, but also for withdrawing kea cards. There are also fees for issuing multiple certificates, for changing the credit limit, and for sending reminders if you are late in paying the loan installment …