Intesa drops fee for ATM withdrawals

The Italians at Intesa Sanpaolo are launching a package on the retail market that contains a current account and a debit card that allows customers to withdraw their money without being charged a fee from any of the over 5,000 ATMs installed in Romania. Cash can also be withdrawn free of charge from the bank's branches with a monthly cap of 30,000 RON or 8,000 euros. All banks charge a fee for cash withdrawals from their own ATMs (with only a few exceptions), a fee which rises significantly in case the customer uses a cash dispenser that belongs to competitor's network. Intesa Sanpaolo is therefore trying to enter a very competitive market, as it can attract clients who get their salaries paid on cards. On the other hand, the fee charged for cash withdrawals may be viewed as a way to stimulate more frequent payment with cards in stores.