Huang Xihua, deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), said Friday she was delighted that the controversial cross-bank ATM inquiry fee had been scrapped, adding "it is the result of efforts by a lot of people".

Huang and more than 50 other NPC deputies recommended the scrapping of the fee at the annual full session of the NPC, China's parliament, which sparked a new round of debate nationwide.

"The NPC Standing Committee listened to our suggestion and transferred it to relevant authorities," Huang said.

Officials with China Banking Regulatory Commission and People's Bank of China held discussions with Huang and other deputies during and after the NPC session that concluded on March 16.

"I had dreamt of the cancellation of the fee, but never imagined it would happen so soon," Huang said.

On June 1 last year, many of China's commercial banks began charging card holders from other banks 0.3 yuan (3.9 US cents) each time they checked their bank account at an ATM. The charge triggered a hot debate in China and an avalanche of criticism from bank clients.

Banks defended their action by saying the charge would help them boost their ATM networks. Analysts said the big commercial banks were reluctant to see their extensive ATM networks used for free by clients from smaller banks.

The China Banking Association said on Friday that "member banks have agreed to stop charging the inquiry fee before April 20 in response to customer feedback."

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2007)