Dijmărescu, Guarantee Fund: Risky banks should pay more

Banks with a riskier financial situation compared with that of other players should contribute more to the Banking System Deposits Guarantee Fund (FGDB), believes Eugen Dijmărescu, general manager of the institution.
The comment made by Dijmărescu, former vicegovernor of the NBR (National Bank of Romania) who was in charge, among other things, of financial stability, comes at a time when customers of the banking sector are in the habit of shopping for interest rates, seeking the highest yields for their deposits, irrespective of the bank’s risk profile. All banks are included in the guarantee scheme, with the guarantee cap becoming a uniform 100,000 euros throughout Europe since 2011. Because of the state guarantee, customers are no longer encouraged to take into account the bank’s risk when choosing where to deposit their money.
“Transparency is the best shield. I don’t think if a bank has a higher risk than another, the contribution should be proportionate. But it should be higher. It would give the depositor confidence that their deposit is insured. Personally, I don’t see such an approach as a bad one,” said Dijmărescu at an informal meeting with journalists.
At present, banks pay an annual standard contribution to the Fund of 0.3% of the value of the insured deposits, irrespective of the risk profile.