While the World Bank expects a pointy enhance in money transfers to Ukraine, the patron affiliation denounces extreme and non-transparent transaction fees.
No presents, even in instances of conflict. In a press launch this Wednesday, UFC-Que Choisir denounces the excessive fees imposed on money transfers to Ukraine, whereas the World Bank expects a pointy enhance in these. “Since the crisis in Ukraine, many consumers have come to the aid of its nationals with donations. This is particularly the case for those who transfer money to their relatives who have not yet been able to flee the war or who wish to stay in their country.writes the association.
Thus, the profits of banks on these money transfers should reach at least 12 billion euros in 2022. “The question of maintaining these prohibitive tariffs must be raised at French and European level”, believes the UFC-Que Choisir. The latter due to this fact challenges France, which ensures Presidency of the Council of the European Union, on the topic. And calls on him to negotiate a speedy discount within the charges utilized to money transfers with monetary establishments.
Lack of transparency
According to the affiliation, banks and money transfer firms “take nearly 11 euros on average” for a cargo of 180 euros from the EU to Ukraine. To get an concept, in 2020 money transfer fees to Ukraine reached greater than 900 million euros. That is “almost twice as much as the humanitarian aid allocated today by the European Union to Ukraine”specifies Matthieu Robin, mission supervisor for banking and insurance coverage at UFC-Que Choisir, in an interview with France Info.
However, some European banks have already waived these fees. “We must welcome the initiative of some European banks, in particular the Banque Postale [établissement français, ndlr] since March 8, who have announced a moratorium.” But in mirror, the association deplores “that this method doesn't but have emulators, particularly inside different French banks”.
Another problem pointed out by UFC-Que Choisir: the lack of transparency of banks, which do not clearly display fees, with the exception of Wise. “Under cover of offering free shipping, other transfer companies charge exchange fees which can be very high”, specifies the association in its press release. For example, for a transfer of 30 euros on average, the prices can range from “11% of the quantity despatched to the Postal Bank up to 1 / 4 to Crédit Agricole Pyrénées Gascogne (24%)”.
Sums that can't “what to ask about the level of the margins practiced”. A research by the World Bank even permits us to estimate {that a} “a 2 percentage point drop in transfer fees could allow the Ukrainians to benefit from an additional aid of 350 million euros this year”.