Why do bankers tax the same loan application review work differently?

Autor: Liviu Chiru 23.09.2010

While the number of fees bankers can levy has been capped, it's still up to them to decide on the calculation method and value. Will competition have its say?
The levy of a percentage fee from the loan value upon the loan release makes banks tax clients differently depending on the borrowed sum though the processing work volume has nothing to do with the funding value.
Banks have fallen into line with ordinance 50 requirements, stipulating the levy of a single fee upon loan release, called a file analysis fee, but have kept their calculation formula, as a percentage of the borrowed sum, as regulations do not touch upon this aspect.
"The release fee calculated as a percentage of the borrowed sum is a worldwide practice. This is clearly not about the work volume, but it's a line of revenue for the bank", says Anca Bidian, general manager of Kiwi Finance, the biggest loan broker domestically.
Bidian says, though, that over the past month several banks have come up with promotional offers waiving this fee, in a bid to attract clients from rivals.