WILLEMSTAD - ABN Amro withdraws letters to account holders in Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the BES islands. A spokesperson for ABN Amro confirms this. In a letter at the end of January, the bank announced that it would close the bank accounts.
"We have written to a very limited number of customers to close their bank accounts," said the spokesperson. "That letter may be considered as not sent pending the consideration of an amendment to the law in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament."
Last week it was announced that the process of closing bank accounts has been temporarily halted pending the amendment of the law. It concerns a private member's bill by D66 Member of Parliament Joost Sneller that will make it possible for all persons with Dutch nationality to have and keep the right to a Dutch bank account, whether they live in the Europe or not.
To the question whether the termination of ABN Amro bank accounts has been canceled, the spokesperson emphasizes that termination is still on hold. Withdrawing the letter does not therefore mean that a final decision has already been taken on whether or not to close the accounts.
Maria van Os of Consumentenbelangen Curaçao makes an effort, in addition to many account holders and lawyers, to get the cancellation of the bank accounts off the table. In a response, Van Os says she is pleased, but points out that the bank says nothing about the rate increase for a bank account.
"ABN Amro wants to charge a surcharge of 15 euros per month," says Van Os. Customers currently pay 1.70 euros, which is increased to 1.95 euros per month. I can live with that. Foreign account holders, however, will receive an increase of no less than 770 percent," says Van Os. The last word has not yet been spoken, according to her.