In this process, it should be kept in mind that banking is a service industry and banks should pay close attention to the needs of customers. We are beginning to see some movements toward this direction, and we hope that they will prevail. Before closing, let me briefly touch on the outlook for the financial system.
The removal of the full protection of deposits in settlement accounts, scheduled in April 2005, should not be perceived simply as a change in the type of coverage of deposit insurance. It should be regarded as the termination of special protection that has been provided as a temporary buffer to avoid potential confusion.