EVENTUALLY, The National Bank has come to the conclusion that the banking system needs to become more humanized

• Adrian Vasilescu: "If there is an abusive clause, does it not mean that the intention also is"

"Humanize the banking market!"; this is the artistic interpretation which Adrian Vasilescu, a strategy consultant with the National Bank of Romania, gives to the European Directive 17/2014 concerning consumer loans.

The humanization of the markets means "taking care of people, being careful of the products you provide them with", in Vasilescu's translation.

According to the Explicative Dictionary, "to humanize" means making more something humane, more merciful, to civilize or to give life, to make something more kind.

Lately, neither Vasilescu's definition, nor that of the Romanian Explicative Dictionary really fit the banking market in Romania, where banks have shown no concern for the type of products that they have offered to consumers.

We do not know what the ratio between fixed and variable interest rate loans is, but we have a strong impression that the latter are overwhelmingly more numerous.

Variable interest rate loans involve an analysis department, a degree of concern, as they are intended for a more sophisticated type of clients.

The humanization of the banking market means first of all the harmonization of the ratio of the two types of loans with the number of people that is not familiar with banking operations. It would appear that the ratios are inversely correlated at the present time.

The large mass of people who are not trained in banking operations take out loans with variable interest rates, which actually require a certain degree of qualification.

The predictability that is a characteristic of fixed interest rate loans actually makes them a good fit for most of our citizens.

The type of loan that is granted is not in tune with the level of knowledge of the population when it comes to working with banks.

Lawyer Gheorghe Piperea, who is representing hundreds of customers in the lawsuits against banks concerning the abusive clauses in loan agreements, thinks that the banking market can not be humanized with the current bankers. He said: "With this absolutely arrogant attitude (ed. note: of the bankers), that is driving everyone mad, we are not going to humanize anything".

Piperea advised bankers to read their customers' letters, in which they describe the desperate situations they are in.

• Piperea: "The intention of the abusive clauses is aggravated"

If there is an abusive clause in loan agreements, it doesn't mean that the intention also is, said Adrian Vasilescu, yesterday.

Lawyer Piperea commented: "The intention is not just one that is clearly visible, it is aggravated. It is like the criminal who pursues their victim to kill them".

The lawyer has reminded that they have been asking for years for abusive clauses that to removed from loan agreements.

Vasilescu: "The Competition Council has become a very powerful institution, which is worrisome"

"The Competition Council has become a very powerful institution, which is worrisome", Adrian Vasilescu further said yesterday, and he went on to say: "It is as if we had a second league football championship and an international level referee, meaning a Competition Council that is too powerful, a referee that makes competent decisions, but is too strict. It may even be an inhibiting factor".