Today, the European Commission launched a public consultation on bank accounts aimed at gathering 'stakeholders’ views on the need for action and on the possible measures to be taken in relation to the issues of transparency and comparability of bank account fees, bank account switching and access to a basic payment account' (see also an earlier post on the difficulties faced by consumers when switching bank accounts). The Commission intends to use the results of the consultation when identifying and designing the measures to be included in its Bank Accounts initiative later this year.The consultation is open to all stakeholders (including citizens and organisations, as well as market participants, national governments and national competent authorities) and will run till 12 June 2012.