The End of Free Banking

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) last week announced that it would launch a full-scale investigation into unfair bank charges on current accounts.

The OFT inquiry will be completed by Christmas, and will examine whether the "provision of so-called free banking" is explained clearly to customers. The OFT will also continue to study the fairness of unauthorised overdraft fees.

OFT chief executive, John Fingleton, said:

"This market study will enable the OFT to consider wider questions about transparency and value in the provision of personal current accounts. This will provide the necessary context for assessing the fairness of unauthorised overdraft and returned-item charges before we apply the law in this area."

Needless to say the banks have been quick to issue a counter threat, by warining that any regulatory restriction on unauthorised borrowing charges might force them to end free banking to their customers who stay in credit.

As noted many times before on this site, banks are not charities they will make money one way or another.