Kazimir: Parliament should limit bank levy until 2020

Parliament should introduce a time limit on the special bank levy hike and keep it in effect only until 2020, Slovak central bank (NBS) governor Peter Kazimir said on Wednesday. Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky hopes that the House will approve the bank levy in a form acceptable to both financial markets and the European Central Bank (ECB). "I think it really would be for the best if lawmakers shortened the period during which this legal measure will be in effect. They should limit the bank levy to the shortest time possible, maybe only until 2020," said Kazimir, adding that the current draft of the bill posed a risk to commercial banks and their future profitability and that this would translate to a risk for client deposits.