A basic account with normal use in Germany last year cost up to 27.83 euros per month. The top price was significantly higher than in also wealthy countries such as Denmark.
In France, Ireland and Poland, basic accounts were free. The VZBV is demanding that politicians should instruct the German banking regulator Bafin to cap the amount of basic account fees. The German Banking Industry Association points out that banks and savings banks independently set the price for the basic account. The association rejects a price cap "as maximum government prices have negative effects and would undermine competition"