Banka Slovenije’s annual analysis finds that the cost of the basket of payment services reflecting the payment habits of the typical customer averaged EUR 77.69 in 2024, down a fraction on 2023. The range between the cheapest and the most expensive basket remains very wide, at EUR 61.80.
There is a similar finding with regard to the effective interest rates (EIRs) advertised by individual banks and savings banks, which were down slightly on 2023, although the gap between institutions remains relatively wide. The gap between the highest and lowest EIRs on the average consumer loan is 4.35 percentage points, while the gap on the average housing loan is 1.48 percentage points. Advertised interest rates averaged 7.58% on consumer loans, and 3.57% on housing loans.
To ensure the straightforward comparability of the services offered by banks and savings banks, the calculations for each bank are based on the same basket of payment services, which reflect the payment habits of the typical customer. Individual packages might include a wider range of services, but these could not be taken into account in the straightforward comparison provided by the basket of services, and the same goes for any qualitative differences in service (e.g. a wide ATM network). Banka Slovenije thus provides an overview of the full package of services offered by all banks and savings banks on its website. The price comparison of the baskets of consumer payment services serves as an informative aid to choosing the most suitable banking package.
Table 1: Basket of payment services of the typical customer
Services tied to payment account | Number of times service used during year |
|---|---|
Current account management, including debit card | 12 |
Online or mobile banking | 12 |
Credit transfers (electronic payments) | 48 |
Direct debits | 36 |
Cash withdrawals with debit card (at ATM of another bank or savings bank) | 36 |
Cost of basket of payment services: EUR 35.88 to EUR 97.68
The average annual cost of the basket of services for a typical customer for the cheapest package at an individual bank aimed at the majority of customers stood at EUR 77.69 last year. The average cost for all consumers, irrespective of whether they were a customer of the bank, stood at EUR 78.92 last year.
Table 2: Calculation of cost of baskets of payment services of the typical customer as at 31 December 2024
Bank / savings bank | Account or package | Annual cost (EUR) | Comparison with average (index) |
|---|---|---|---|
Addiko Bank d.d. | Cash current account | 80.28 | 103.33 |
Banka Intesa Sanpaolo d.d. | START package | 88.80 | 114.30 |
Banka Sparkasse d.d. | Mini package | 72.12 | 92.83 |
BKS Bank AG | Starter package | 89.40 | 115.07 |
Delavska hranilnica d.d., Ljubljana | Simple package | 61.68 | 79.39 |
Deželna banka Slovenije d.d. | DBS personal account | 97.68 | 125.73 |
Gorenjska banka d.d., Kranj | Standard package | 86.40 | 111.21 |
Hranilnica LON d.d., Kranj | Starter package | 65.28 | 84.03 |
Nova Ljubljanska banka d.d., Ljubljana | Basic package | 91.08 | 117.24 |
OTP banka d.d. | Personal account plus | 92.88 | 119.55 |
Primorska hranilnica Vipava d.d. | E-package | 35.88 | 46.18 |
UniCredit Banka Slovenija d.d. | Freedom account | 70.80 | 91.13 |
Average | N/A | 77.69 | 100.00 |
Source: Own calculations based on basket of services and reported fees applicable on 31 December 2024
Ranges in EIRs of 4.35 percentage points and 1.48 percentage points according to online calculators
With the aim of providing an even more comprehensive look at the range of banking services for consumers, we have also drawn up a comparison of financing costs for retail customers. The comparison uses EIR as the most complete indicator of financing costs, as it includes the interest on the borrowed money and the cost of credit services.
The data is obtained from the online calculators of individual banks and savings banks, or from direct offers where the online tools are not available. The average tenor over the last three years and the average loan amount over the last year were used in the calculations. For consumer loans the average tenor is five years and the average loan amount is EUR 14,000, while for housing loans the average tenor is 16 years and the average loan amount is EUR 85,000. A fixed interest rate was chosen for both types of loan, with the borrower assumed to be a customer of the bank or savings bank in question. Real estate was assumed to be the collateral for the housing loan.
The average EIR calculated in this way for a consumer loan was 7.58% (last year: 8.09%), with a range from 6.33% at the cheapest bank to 10.68% at the most expensive, which is equivalent to slightly more than EUR 2,100 in financing costs. The average EIR for a housing loan was 3.57% (last year: 4.20%), with a range from 2.93% at the cheapest bank to 4.41% at the most expensive, equivalent to almost EUR 12,500 in financing costs. The fall in the EIR was also attributable to the cuts in ECB interest rates.
Table 3: Advertised EIRs for consumer and housing loans as at 6 February 2025
Consumer loan | Housing loan | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bank / savings bank |
EIR (%) | Deviation from lowest (percentage points) | Deviation from |
EIR (%) | Deviation from | Deviation from |
Addiko Bank d.d.* | 6.94 | 0.61 | -0.64 |
|
|
|
Banka Intesa Sanpaolo d.d. | 6.50 | 0.17 | -1.08 | 3.56 | 0.63 | -0.01 |
Banka Sparkasse d.d. | 6.33 | 0.00 | -1.25 | 4.41 | 1.48 | 0.84 |
BKS Bank AG** | 10.68 | 4.35 | 3.10 | 3.82 | 0.89 | 0.25 |
Delavska hranilnica d.d., Ljubljana | 7.37 | 1.04 | -0.21 | 3.69 | 0.76 | 0.12 |
Deželna banka Slovenije d.d.*** | 6.82 | 0.49 | -0.76 | 3.33 | 0.40 | -0.24 |
Gorenjska banka d.d., Kranj | 7.69 | 1.36 | 0.11 | 2.93 | 0.00 | -0.64 |
Hranilnica LON d.d., Kranj**** | 9.50 | 3.17 | 1.92 | 3.33 | 0.40 | -0.24 |
Nova Ljubljanska banka d.d., Ljubljana | 8.62 | 2.29 | 1.04 | 3.35 | 0.42 | -0.22 |
OTP banka d.d. | 6.50 | 0.17 | -1.08 | 3.52 | 0.59 | 0.05 |
Primorska hranilnica Vipava d.d.***** | 6.83 | 0.50 | -0.75 | 3.66 | 0.73 | 0.09 |
UniCredit Banka Slovenija d.d. | 7.23 | 0.90 | -0.35 | 3.68 | 0.75 | 0.11 |
Average | 7.58 | 1.25 | 0.00 | 3.57 | 0.24 | 0.00 |
For customers in permanent employment; bank does not offer housing loans.
* No online calculator; rough offer obtained directly, combined interest rate for housing loan.
*** Consumer loan secured by mortgage.
**** No online calculator; rough offer obtained directly.
***** Consumer loan secured with insurer; longest repayment term for fixed-rate housing loan: 15 years.
Sources: Websites of banks and savings banks