DenİzBank CEO Hakan Ateş criticized the Republican People's Party (CHP)'s election advertisement, claiming that it encourages people not to pay interest on personal debt. Bankers have harshly criticized the CHP's new election ad, which promises citizens it will help erase 80 percent of interest on personal debt if elected, especially since the party also claims they have already discussed this election promise with bankers. Ateş asked how an ad can suggest people not to pay their debts, even in an indirect way, since banks have to pay their deposit rates.Ateş underlined that banks pay commissions and that the banks are institutions that play a role in the reasonable distribution of resources. "Our institution brings together surplus resources with a lack of resources. Everyone, including the politicians, should understand the time value of money," Ateş said. He added that only 5 percent of the debts are not paid and such a deletion would be unfair to the remaining 95 percent.
Ateş asked what would be deleted, and whether this will be done with the order from the government or whether foreign and domestic banks will both be included. He added that more importance needs to be given to financial literacy.
CHP Deputy Chairwoman Selin Sayek Böke replied to Sabah's question about which banks the CHP made a deal with to erase 80 percent of interest on personal debt. "We cannot give out any names" she said, and even claimed that there were banks that came up with the offer. "Bankers proposed this project to us. There is more than one bank involved," Böke said.
