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Germany Proposes Stricter Overdraft Rules to Shield Consumers

Lawmakers have opened the draft for public consultation ahead of transposing the EU directive into national law this autumn.

Overview

  • Banks must give account holders at least two months’ notice before withdrawing overdraft rights.
  • Lenders are obliged to propose 12 equal monthly repayments at the contract rate before initiating any forced collection.
  • Protections will now apply to interest-free mini-loans and buy-now-pay-later models under €200 with clear information sheets.
  • The draft bars using health data and other sensitive personal information in creditworthiness assessments.
  • The bill does not impose caps on overdraft interest rates, citing risks of overregulation and restricted access.