Some of the banks informed their users that they are increasing the fee for keeping accounts. Financial reports show that bank profits are making big profits. The three largest banks, Komercijalna, Stopanska and NLB banka, in the first 9 months made a joint profit of 161,4 million euros, in contrast to the same period last year when it was 129,4. In addition to interest, fees were an important item in their income statement.

Of the three largest banks, NLB Bank has realized the largest amount of income from commissions and fees - 30 million euros, which is 2,7 percent more than in the same period last year.

Komercijalna banka made an income from commissions of 27,9 million euros and it is higher by 13,9 percent.

In the same period, Stopanska banka earned revenues from commissions and fees in the amount of 19,9 million euros, which is 4,9 percent more than in the period from January to September 2023.

The bankers also explain in their financial reports that the increase in interest rates and the increase in the amount of fees are due to a larger volume of work and increased lending.

In 2023, the Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems entered into force. This law was expected to reduce the share of fees, which is often criticized in the public. The effects of this law are also expected from the National Bank.

- A significant step forward in this direction was the adoption of the Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems, which for the first time in our country enables the liberalization of payment services, as opposed to the previous legislation that stated that only banks can provide payment services. Now those services can be performed by other segments, of course they have to be previously licensed by the central bank. This creates preconditions for greater competition, which should ultimately bring lower prices for citizens and companies. There is interest from certain new providers, this process is ongoing and we hope that the providers' offer will increase - said the governor of the National Bank, Anita Angelovska-Bejoska, answering a journalist's question during the presentation of the autumn macroeconomic projections.

She said that the Central Bank takes many other measures from the point of view of protecting citizens, in fact, the law itself has significantly increased the transparency that banks must have when offering their services.

– There are even bans for certain fees following the European regulation. We have prepared a special tool published on our website, which will allow citizens to more easily compare the prices of the most frequently used payment services, again in the function of increasing competition and informing citizens, and we have also prepared a draft law on financial an ombudsman that has been submitted to the competent regulatory institution - said Angelovska-Bežoska.

She also explained that the Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems provides for the limitation of several types of fees and the introduction of several new institutes that are in support of citizens, as well as the introduction of a concept of a payment account with basic functions where 40 MKD is paid per month for the entire package. and if it concerns socially vulnerable categories, they do not pay any compensation.

- According to European directives, fees for inactive accounts, for closing accounts, etc. are prohibited. As a central bank, we also established a special directorate for consumer protection, which conducts on-site and off-site controls and acts on citizens' reports, and there were such cases when a charge was made for closing an account and the banks were sanctioned accordingly - said the governor.