THIS is with reference to Khawar Ahsan’s letter ‘Opening bank account’ (De 3).

Normally, information regarding the source of income has to be obtained by the bank as a part of its ‘Know Your Customer’ requirements.

However, it is not justified to decline provision of banking services on the basis of employment status. Banks can maintain relationships and provide financial services to all customers under reasonable controls, according to instructions and regulations.

The State Bank of Pakistan has prohibited banks from all forms of discrimination while providing financial services in normal course of business, e.g. on the basis of specific occupation, trade, region, gender and other factors.

Moreover, banks have been instructed to provide banking facilities to senior citizens and pensioners according to their laid-down criteria without any discrimination and to ensure that high-level conduct is observed by all their employees while dealing with them. Furthermore, a category of ‘Asaan Account’ was introduced in 2015 across the banking industry, which can be opened with as low as Rs100 at bank branches, as well as at places other than the bank premises, by filling in a simple one-page form. Banks are required to accept source of income as per self-declaration of the customer.

Nevertheless, any discrimination or unjustifiable refusal of normal banking services may be brought to the notice of the complaints section of the bank concerned and if the issue is not resolved, the same should be referred to the SBP.

Complaints to the SBP can be lodged through the Online complaint form on the SBP’s website (www.sbp.org.pk) or via letter addressed to the director, Banking Conduct and Consumer Protection Department, State Bank of Pakistan, I. I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi.

Abid Qamar

Chief Spokesman, State Bank of Pakistan

Karachi

Published in Dawn December 8th, 2016