A first green light that can lead to a substantial novelty in the relationship between banks and customers. What exactly changes after the approval in the first reading of Palazzo Montecitorio (the second passage in the Senate) of the text that prevents the credit institutions from refusing to open a current account and closing it if it has an active balance?
In detail, the provision provides that “without prejudice to the obligation to observe the national and European provisions regarding the contrast of recycling and the financing of terrorism, The bank cannot in any case exempt itself from the stipulation of a current account contract with anyone who requests it». And again the bank “communicates the possible refusal of stipulation, deriving from compliance with the anti -money laundering and anti -terrorism rules, motivating it in writing, within ten days from the request for the opening of the current account”. Therefore net of cases of contrast with the anti-agricultural and anti-terrorism legislation, “it cannot withdraw from the fixed-term or indeterminate current account contract when the sales are active”.
The room, with 254 votes in favor, gave its placet unanimously. The legislative initiative could have a concrete impact on many people, considering that in Italy the number of active current accounts is 48,110.106, with an increase of 5,611,749 units compared to 2019, when the total stood at 42,498,357. This is a growth of 13.2% in five years, data published by the Italian Banking Autonomous Federation (FABI). At the top of the ranking of the first 30 cities there is Milan with 8,171,863 accounts, equal to 17% of the national total, Rome follows with 4,387.201 accounts and a share of 9.1% and in third place Turin with 1,809,859 accounts (3.8%). Instead, as regards territorial distribution, growth, North West is confirmed by the first area by number of accounts, with 18.29 million in 2024, increasing by +19.2% compared to 2019; The North East records 10.42 million accounts, with a growth of +10.9%; Central Italy reached 9.99 million (+8.4%); The South touched 6.30 million accounts (+9.5%); The islands close with 3.11 million, up 11.5%.
Returning to the legislative initiative, it must be noted that it enjoys a bipartisan consent. At the end of the voting operations Matteo Salvinileader of the League, said: “The green light of the Chamber to the bill that provides for the obligation of the banks to enter into a current account contract with anyone who requests it is a victory of the League. It is our historical battle in defense of all citizens in difficulty ». Toni Ricciardi, vice -president of the Pd Group also intervened on the matter: “The provision on current accounts is not a merely bureaucratic question but the umpteenth piece that politics must add to the right of complete citizenship and that does not leave anyone behind. The right that binds citizens and banks that we are discussing is an obligation of civilization ». At the origin of the provision there are numerous reports of and complaints of citizens who reported the closure of their accounts, even with positive sales, without specific reasons. Codacons also expresses satisfaction: «It is right to guarantee the right to the current account to all citizens, without discrimination and limits based on income or other unfair criteria. The current economic situation, including digital payments, new technologies and home banking, strongly limits those who today do not have an open account at an institution of creditor and creates disparities in treatment among citizens. The prohibition for banks to withdraw from current account contracts is equally important when the balance is in active ».