Here’s how much bank bills will cost this year

By: Trademagazin Date: 2026. 01. 13. 11:00

🎧 Hallgasd a cikket: Nyelv: Sebesség: 1.05×

The Central Statistical Office has published the annual inflation data for 2025, i.e. the rate of increase in consumer prices last year. This also determines the maximum rate of increase in bank account fees this year, as well as the interest rates of two important government securities this year. However, there is a twist in the fee increase for retail bank accounts – writes BiztosDöntés.hu.

The Central Statistical Office (KSH) published the inflation data for December 2025 this morning, which was 3.3 percent compared to the same month of the previous year.

More importantly, this also resulted in the full 2025 Hungarian inflation data (consumer price index), which also affects several financial instruments. The annual inflation rate for 2025 is 4.4 percent.

This affects three financial instruments: bank accounts, inflation-tracking investments, and indexation of insurance. It is also worth paying attention to by basic account holders.

Annual fee increase for bank accounts is coming

The upper limit of annual unilateral fee increases by banks is a condition or circumstance clearly specified in the contract concluded with the consumer pursuant to Act CCXXXVII of 2013 on Credit Institutions and Financial Enterprises (Hpt.).

This is the annual inflation rate for all banks. Based on this, bank fees may increase by a maximum of 4.4 percent this year.

According to Act LXXXV of 2009 on the Provision of Payment Services, banks and payment service providers must publish unilateral fee increases no later than two months before the fee change. This means that, given the previous year’s inflation, an annual fee increase can be published as of today at the earliest and can take effect in two months at the earliest.

However, this publication usually takes 1-2 months, so the fee increases can take effect from March 13, 2026 at the earliest, but in practice they are only expected to take effect in April or May.

However, there is a voluntary commitment on the part of the banks between the government and the Hungarian Banking Association – and in the case of OTP Bank, a separate agreement was reached with the government – based on which there will be no fee increases for retail customers until June 30 this year. Moreover, banks have also postponed their previously announced fee increases for last year.

Therefore, entrepreneurs can expect this year’s annual bank fee increase between March and May, at a different time for each bank, while retail customers can expect it from July 1st at the earliest.

Although annual inflation sets an upper limit for bank fee increases, previously unvalidated inflation fee increases can still be applied later. This means that banks can theoretically increase their fees for the general public not only by the 4.4 percent rate this year, but also by the rate that was not raised last year, which is 3.7 percent. Based on this, the maximum upper limit for fee increases for the general public this year is 8.1 percent. However, due to competition, banks are unlikely to use last year’s inflation rate, or will only use it in a few cases, but they may do so later, in subsequent years.