Swedish Bank Gets the Ageism Message AARP Bulletin
Swedish Bank Gets the Ageism Message - AARP Bulletin
Swedish Bank Gets the Ageism Message
After a newspaper report revealed that some Swedish banks had age limits for older adults seeking certain types of loans, a public outcry led at least one bank to change its policy. At Ikano Bank people over age 70 were ineligible for unsecured loans. Bank officials said they didn’t want to discriminate, but that it all came down to risk. “However much we may wish it were different, we know that the risk that we are going to die or become seriously ill increases sharply with age,” Ikano representative Marina Nilsson Eiman wrote on the bank’s website in defense of the policy. But after a week of criticism the bank relented, saying that age alone would no longer yield a rejection. And it’s a good thing they did, says Sally Hurme at AARP Financial Services. The old policy “smacks of ageism,” she says. Michelle Diament is a freelance writer based in Memphis, Tenn. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
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