Banking problems

[Liam1]

It is perhaps a bit rigid, but not sure why it is discrimanatory or at least no more discrimanatory than any other business who chooses to serve customers that it thinks it can make money from.
The only angle on the fact that you are not Finnish is the ability to make lifetime income. Banks will always offer student accounts not for profit but the fact that the average bank holder rarely switches providers.

I wouldn't be able to get my 4 or 8 year old a debit card on my account. The point is that they have no income and may run up bills. It is less likely with debit cards to become overdrawn but there still are ways. Also Finns don't do joint accounts as much as other countries. I recall having problems adding to my wife's account and it was only when we started talking mortgages, all my savings / income moving etc that they became flexible.

Also everyone seems to treat the banks as an extension of the govt. The govt may perceive a benefit in attracting bright phd students and their families, or just note a degree of reciprocity as part of EU membership. However a private bank sees a temporary customer with a modest income as more cost than profit, especially if its profilers note that most come here for the good education and then leave (so less chance of lifelong business). I am not surprised therefore that it is reluctant to incur admin and costs unless it sees a profit somewhere.

If it is this, I wonder if you can convince them somehow by making the indvidual that you are both here beyond the duration of the PHD contract.

[macora]

Bank and gvt. are often pretty closely intertwined, in the sense that govt. creates rules, and markets for the banks. Like a web form of gvt. asking for Finnish internet banking exclusively creates a market for Finnish banks. Whether the bank takes advantage of that market is as you are saying their decision, of course. I am looking forward to finding out why Finnish banks do not make profit with savings of any duration, but (to my limited knowledge) with income mostly, though. I grew up in Switzerland, where banks make profit with pretty much everything related to money, and savings foremost. Granted, also not with debit cards for 4 and 8- year old kids. I am pretty sure they would, if they were legally allowed to, though And no, it is not an aspect I am proud of in my country of origin...

[Liam1]

Hi Macora
I agree governments can make life very difficult for banks and so they can also expect the banks to cooperate in giving a minimum "service" level to all customers. A current account being fed by a modest income provides virtually no income opportunities (in Finland going overdrawn and hence being charged silly fees is not allowed)

The OP was however lamenting that the banks were not willing to give additional services e.g. offer him a card on his partner's account and stating that he felt discriminated against. My point was that there would be no benefit for the banks to do this (they already have the full joint income) but would have a number of additional costs/risks. This is no more discrimanatory than the local Ferrari garage deciding not to let me test drive their cars whilst letting a Finnish millionaire take one for a spin.