<Anchor>



As interest rates rose, until recently, savings banks and commercial banks competitively offered deposit products in the 6% range and 5% range, but now interest rates are going backwards again.

Controversy is also brewing in the analysis that the influence of the financial authorities worked.



This is reporter Nam Jung-min's report.



<Reporter> In



the middle of last month, a line formed in front of the bank from dawn on the news of the sale of deposits in the 6% range.



As interest rates in the 5% range appeared in commercial banks for the first time in 14 years, people continued to deposit savings by subtracting savings and stock investments.



But deposit rates are coming down again.



Except for savings banks, the 5% interest rate products have disappeared from major commercial banks.



[Park Mo: I'm hesitating to join.

From the point of view of making a time deposit, that percentage is very large, so I want to sign up for a high interest rate like before.]



It is analyzed that the fact that the deposit interest rate fell despite the additional base rate increase by the Bank of Korea last month was due to the influence of the authorities.



Financial chiefs are targeting banks that are making huge profits with deposit margins while the interest burden of the common people is growing, saying, “Excessive competition to secure funds is the cause of market disturbance” and “We will minimize the concentration of deposits.”



[Hwang Sewoon/Senior Research Fellow, Capital Market Research Institute: If the interest rate rises like that, it will inevitably lead to a loan interest rate.

I think it was judged that the competition needed to be alleviated.]



Recently, there is also a movement to curb the increase in lending rates.

[Seo Ji-yong / Professor of Business Administration, Sangmyung University: From the point of view of financial



consumers, deposit customers who do not use loans separately do not think it is an appropriate market intervention because there is a possibility of significantly infringing on consumer welfare.]



With the decision to temporarily waive the prepayment fee for bank loans in order to reduce the cost, the controversy over 'governmental administration' is expected to grow.



(Video coverage: Lee Yong, video editing: Park Ji-in)