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Bank of America shares fall amid debit card fee anger | Bank of America shares fall amid debit card fee anger |
(1 day later) | |
Shares in Bank of America have fallen 2%, a day after it announced plans to charge debit card users $5 (£3.20) per month to pay for their purchases. | Shares in Bank of America have fallen 2%, a day after it announced plans to charge debit card users $5 (£3.20) per month to pay for their purchases. |
Bank of America, the largest US bank by deposits, said it would introduce the fee early in 2012. | Bank of America, the largest US bank by deposits, said it would introduce the fee early in 2012. |
The move comes ahead of a new rule that will limit how much lenders can bill retailers for customer debit card transactions. | The move comes ahead of a new rule that will limit how much lenders can bill retailers for customer debit card transactions. |
The bank's debit card holders will still get free cash withdrawals. | The bank's debit card holders will still get free cash withdrawals. |
The monthly charge will apply to users of Bank of America's basic bank accounts, and will be in addition to any service fees they already have to pay. | The monthly charge will apply to users of Bank of America's basic bank accounts, and will be in addition to any service fees they already have to pay. |
A number of smaller US banks, such as SunTrust, a regional lender based in Atlanta, have already introduced charges for debit card purchases. | A number of smaller US banks, such as SunTrust, a regional lender based in Atlanta, have already introduced charges for debit card purchases. |
So far only Citigroup has ruled out introducing the change. | So far only Citigroup has ruled out introducing the change. |
'Changed economics' | 'Changed economics' |
Bank of America said the new fee would be rolled out on a state-by-state basis. | Bank of America said the new fee would be rolled out on a state-by-state basis. |
Its move comes as an amendment to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act goes into effect from 1 October. | Its move comes as an amendment to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act goes into effect from 1 October. |
The amendment, brought by Democrat Senator Richard Durbin, limits the fees that banks can charge retailers for processing debit card transactions to 21 cents. | |
This compares to the previous average of 44 cents, meaning a substantial fall in revenues for the banks. | This compares to the previous average of 44 cents, meaning a substantial fall in revenues for the banks. |
A Bank of America spokeswoman said: "The economics of offering a debit card have changed." | A Bank of America spokeswoman said: "The economics of offering a debit card have changed." |
Sen Durbin said Bank of America's move was "overt and unfair" and that he hoped its customers would "have the final say". | Sen Durbin said Bank of America's move was "overt and unfair" and that he hoped its customers would "have the final say". |
"Bank of America is trying to find new ways to pad their profits by sticking it to its customers," he said. | "Bank of America is trying to find new ways to pad their profits by sticking it to its customers," he said. |