After that claimed for years associations for the defense of vulnerable groups, especially immigrants, refugees and asylum seekersHE Congress agreed to reform the regulation. basic payment accounts To try avoid that banks to follow to reject concessions to people who meet the requirements to have them. Thus, parliamentary groups – in coordination with Ministry of Economy– we agreed to explain in which cases organizations will be required open them and what identity documents as well as escrow will apply in the most complex cases. Bank of Spain to do standard application form banks should present it to interested parties on their web pages and offices.
This European Union created these accounts 2014 to guarantee almost universal right peoples residents in their own land (i.e. legal or not) to access most basic financial services: deposit and withdrawal; residence of income and receipts; transfers; and bank card. HE Rajoy Government Approved inclusion in Spanish regulations in November 2017meanwhile he current Admin set in 2019 the maximum total cost cannot exceed three euros per monthwhile they are free for vulnerable households those who meet certain income requirements.
Spain is a country multi-bank and the vast majority of citizens have access to a checking account, but with basic payment accounts, they are not profitable for banks They can also access financial services. This is a fundamental question, because having an account nowadays necessary with collect salary or benefits or for social good, pay the rent some households and basic services such as water, electricity or gas.
Violations
Financial institutions since 2017 obligation to inform and bid to those who request these accounts and prove that they meet the requirements. Only unreachable those without a residence permit and they can be deported country that does not provide the information requested by the bank to avoid money laundering and terrorist financingthose who may harm their interests, National Security or social order” and those who already have another account.
So, on paper. The problem that associations for the defense of vulnerable groups have condemned for years is this: banks refuse account to many meet the requirements in particular, despite being in an irregular administrative situation, they cannot be deported from the country. They also criticized lack of employee training offices on the product and applicable documents, as well as violations obligation to refuse in writing (document required to make a request). From the financial sector, for its own part, normative crashes with strong legal obligations to combat money laundering.
valid documents
To try to resolve some of these issues, parliamentary groups have agreed to clarify that they are entitled to a basic payment account. not just refugeesbut all who ask international protection (the right of asylum, as well as the right of subsidiary protection, once granted, to prevent repatriation or deportation). they have removed law “without a residence permit but export is impossible for legal or factual reasons”, because there is no way to prove the latter in many cases. it will be enough now go physically provide an office and documents proving identity.
Groups, along these lines, have included in the law: valid documents four to introduce themselves in front of banks published by the Ministry of the Interior. justifying its different stages application for international protection or status stateless (including what’s known as the white sheet, red card, and green card). It is important because it is an ongoing process. six months and one year. They also found that lack of income can be accredited by responsible statement. and expanded two to three months in what period asset must be declared to the customer closed control.
progress in the process
Driven by the changes PSOE, United We Can and ERCand supported by PNV, Cs and PdCatnew amendment to the law Financial Client Defense Officer, the project was approved by Congress this Thursday. This body, in fact, can fix Compensation up to 2,000 Euros For those affected who make claims without a specific economic content, a consideration of possibility “especially” for applicants basic payment accounts, according to another approved amendment. The importance of the standard implementation model to be developed by the Bank of Spain stems from this.
However, no agreement was reached go further in other directionsAs a Unidas Podemos spokesperson claimed in Congress’ economic committee, Txema Gravelwho had offered clarify the compatibility between laws strengthening basic accounts and laundering, written notice and motivation for rejection of applications, and periodic the number of basic accounts opened and the reasons for rejection. Sources of the Ministry of Economy clarify that work is being carried out in parallel with some of these issues with the Bank of Spain and the Enforcement Office of the Anti-Money Laundering and Monetary Crime Commission (sepblac).