Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform

Bank Charges: Discussion with Central Bank and ISME

3:30 pm

Mr. Bernard Sheridan:

The banks have many challenges, one of which is how they will become profitable. One area on which they are focusing is what they will do about charges and fees. We have a role under section 149 and it must take that into account and the impact on customers. In respect of the costs associated with providing the different channels, asking why banks have not differentiated up to now is a fair point. That is the move the banks are making now in terms of focusing on the service and how it is provided, the costs associated with that and recovering those costs. I will not speak on behalf of the banks in respect of what they are doing and their particular strategies. We focus on what our role is to try to deliver on that.