Customers are taken by surprise at the ATM
So much audacity was rare: With a cheeky trick, the savings bank surprised its customers at the ATM. Instead of going directly to the money issue, they are asked for their consent beforehand. The financial institution would like to have the green light for a fee increase. An important question remains.
Anyone who goes to the ATM usually has two things on their mind: getting fresh cash or – if you don’t use online banking – finding out your account balance. The Sparkasse is currently providing a third, previously unknown option.
Savings banks want approval for the fee increase at ATMs
the uses its ATMs to get customers to agree to a fee increase (Source: Handelsblatt via tech book). This is usually done via a pop-up in online banking, directly in the branch or by letter. However, not all Sparkasse customers can be reached in this way, which is why the bank is now resorting to this unusual method. Affected Sparkasse customers are now shown a corresponding window when they visit the ATM, in which they can choose from three possible answers: “Agree”, “Already done” or “Skip”.
In theory, Sparkasse customers have the option of bypassing the price increase and simply pressing “Skip”. In practice, however, most of them are likely to be so taken by surprise and just want to withdraw their money quickly that they agree. A clever trick by the Sparkasse to secure approval for the price increase with gentle pressure. After all, the savings bank must inform its customers in advance by post about the changed terms and conditions and price lists, alternatively as a digital notification.
It is currently not known how many savings banks use the ATM trick. According to the Handelsblatt, however, the Sparkasse in Berlin and Sparkasse Mecklenburg-Schwerin will be there.
How to protect yourself with online banking:
What happens if you don’t agree?
And what happens if Sparkasse customers continue to click on “Skip” and simply do not agree? That remains the exciting question. From a purely legal point of view, financial institutions have the right to terminate their customers. However, it remains to be seen whether they really take full action against their customers. However, Postbank does not have these scruples and has already announced that it will terminate its customers if they do not agree to the price increase by May 1st.
