Sydbank, a Danish bank, has been ruled by the Sønderborg Court to have violated payment laws by denying an agent access to its payment account services. The Competition and Consumer Authority noted that this action undermines competition, as the bank was found to have failed to comply with a 2021 order from the Competition Council to grant access. The Council is concerned that such practices could limit consumer choices in the financial market, stifling competition in favor of the bank's interests.

The case arose when the Competition Council issued a directive in 2021 requiring Sydbank to allow an agent representing a payment institution to access its services. However, Sydbank did not comply with this directive, leading the Council to refer the matter to the police in 2023. Bettina Funch-Jarlbæk, acting director at the Center for Tech within the Competition and Consumer Authority, highlighted the seriousness of the bank's actions, suggesting that by denying access, Sydbank was protecting itself from competition, ultimately harming consumer choice.

Following the court ruling, Sydbank, which is now known as AL Sydbank, stated that they are considering their next steps regarding the case but did not offer further comments at this time. The implications of this ruling could have broader effects on how financial institutions operate in Denmark, especially regarding compliance with competition laws and the need to maintain fair access to financial services for all market players.