On Aug. 18, ÚOHS Chairman Martin Pecina said the investigation needed additional evidence to confirm the ruling that Českomoravská stavební spořitelna, Wüstenrot, Stavební spořitelna České spořitelny, Hypo stavební spořitelna, Všeobecná spořitelna Komerční banky and Raiffeisen stavební spořitelna combined to set exorbitant customer fees.

"We're not saying at the moment that the associations did nothing wrong and that they'll be cleared of the sanctions," Pecina said. "But we need to get more evidence in order to complete the investigation."

The ÚOHS originally fined the six associations 484 million Kč in August 2004 for what it called "cartel agreements."

The associations illegally increased savings account fees and improperly exchanged customer information, the ÚOHS found.

The state provides building account holders with a subsidy of up to 3,000 Kč per year — effectively boosting the annual interest rate of the account to more than 10 percent and making building accounts one of the most attractive savings accounts in the country.

By increasing fees, the associations were able to take advantage of customers who could not withdraw any money from those accounts for fear of losing the lucrative state subsidy, the ÚOHS ruled.

The fines for particular associations varied from 19 million to 228 million Kč for the biggest one, Českomoravská stavební spořitelna.

Each denied wrongdoing and appealed the ruling.

In December 2005, the ÚOHS lowered the 484 million Kč fine to 201 million Kč and dropped its accusations that the associations acted in concert while increasing service fees. But the ÚOHS maintained that the exchange of customer information was illegal.

The associations again appealed the sanction, claiming innocence.

"We insist that we have not violated any law," said Kurt Matouschek, general director of Raiffeisen stavební spořitelna. "We'll take any legal action to prove our innocence."

ÚOHS Chairman Pecina said his office had to reconsider the economic impact of exchanging customer information.