Italy approves 40% windfall tax on banks

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-approves-40-windfall-tax-on-banks-be-limited-2023-2023-08-07/

Italy dealt a surprise blow to its banks and sent shockwaves across the sector in Europe by setting a one-off 40% tax on profits reaped from higher interest rates, after reprimanding lenders for failing to reward deposits.

16 points · 4 comments · view on lemmy.world

4 Comments

mxwarp@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 3y (3 replies)

While it might not directly relate to Canadian Finance News, I believe we could implement a similar regulation for big banks in Canada. Currently, none of these banks have raised their deposit interest rates, and I think this practice should become the standard.

deltatux@mstdn.ca · 1 pts · 3y (2 replies)

@mxwarp I mean, what incentives do these banks have to pay higher interest? They own like >80% of the market and their name recognition alone draws deposits.

Keep in mind that paying higher interest rates is a way to attract deposits, when your name recognition & size can already do that for you, why pay more?

As a consumer, people need to consider shopping around. Far too many Canadians believe there's no choice when in fact there is.

For higher paying options, see: https://highinterestsavings.ca/chart

mxwarp@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 3y (1 reply)

Looks like they finally got the memo!

deltatux@mstdn.ca · 2 pts · 3y

@mxwarp This is just a promo rate, all the Big Banks & their subsidiaries do this. They boost the rate for 3-4 months and then you earn their base crappy rate thereafter.

Scotiabank, Tangerine, Simplii & etc. have been doing this for years.

The options in the link I provided previously are non-promo rates.

Other options incl. fintechs like WealthSimple offer 4.5% if you have $100k deposited or invested with them, or via money market funds or investment savings account which all pay >4%.