Croatia's Ministry of Finance announced plans to agree a memorandum of understanding with commercial banks to establish a national ATM network under which cash withdrawals would be free at any participating ATM, effectively treating all network ATMs as if they were a customer’s own bank’s machines. The proposal sits alongside amendments to the law on comparability of fees intended to guarantee citizens a free payment account for regular salary or income receipts. Public consultation on the draft amendments has concluded, but the Ministry signalled a change to one element of the original approach. The initial proposal would have included five free cash withdrawals at another bank’s ATM, but the Croatian National Bank (HNB) warned this could significantly threaten banks’ operating stability, prompting the Ministry to pursue the national ATM network as an alternative route to deliver fee-free access. The HNB is involved in the discussions, and a draft memorandum is to be sent to banks shortly with a set period for comments, after which the Ministry plans to proceed with its legislative proposal. The provision on five free transactions is expected to remain in the bill in some form, likely with a suspensive clause to allow time for the network to be established, and to take effect if the network is not put in place.

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