Suriname parliament urges action against rising bank fees

Suriname's National Assembly (DNA) has called on the government to intervene following significant increases in banking fees. VHP parliamentarian Mahinder Jogi raised concerns regarding rising transaction costs and ATM withdrawal fees, noting that citizens have little influence over these unilaterally determined rates.

Since August 1, the cost for an ATM withdrawal increased from SRD 11 to SRD 17.60 per transaction, representing a rise of over 60 percent. Additionally, checking a balance now incurs a fee of SRD 1.10 per transaction.

NDP parliamentarian Ebu Jones supported the call for action, highlighting that ATM withdrawal limits often force customers to perform multiple transactions to access larger sums, thereby compounding the total fees paid. Lawmakers expressed concern that these cumulative costs act as a structural burden on the income of low- and middle-income households, potentially limiting broader economic consumption.