There are no laws requiring this, since if there was, all banks would provide it, but not all do. Those who do are few of the big traditional banks, but mostly newer disruptive banks, such as those started by retail chains.
"every single customer that comes in requires services from a human..."
That's only if there are physical branches! I'm almost starting to think you think I'm making stuff up. So let me explain (this is Sweden by the way):
Many banks here don't have physical offices at all, or just provide banking services through existing infrastructure (some large retail chains, for example IKEA and our largest grocery chain). All banks, but especially the large commercial banks with physical branches charge huge fees for the manual transactions (paying a bill in a physical branch can be $5-$15), as to discourage manual service. Only elderly people use manual bank services these days and physical branches closed in large numbers starting 15 years ago, since most banking moved to the Internet. I haven't used a manual banking service (paid a bill, cashed a check, deposited cash...) in ten years.
I'm not sure what the marginal costs of audits, insurances and so on are for our banks, but apparently lower than the expected income from a customer. You know how McDonalds sell you a $1 item at a loss just to get you in the door (a "loss leader")? - this could well be a case of that, and that would make a lot of sense. As everyone is always paid salary to a bank account here, I imagine the average customer can be pretty attractive; Everyone with a legal employment of any kind will have money in their accounts. The bank just needs to believe that the expected income of a new customer is greater than the marginal costs. I do believe banks here have very nearly zero marginal cost for a customer that opens an account themselves using electronic ID, and never uses a physical branch. I also think the expected future profit from a customer can be pretty big because of how the economy works with high employment and all salaries paid to bank accounts.
So, almost entirely different from the Bronx. "Joe from the Bronx" would never trust a bank that made him do everything online, and to be honest, neither would I. He gets most of his income in cash under the table so what does he care about automatic direct deposit?
I get it, you live in Sweden, you don't have an underclass, you're completely digital, but you're out of touch with what reality is for most people.
"every single customer that comes in requires services from a human..."
That's only if there are physical branches! I'm almost starting to think you think I'm making stuff up. So let me explain (this is Sweden by the way):
Many banks here don't have physical offices at all, or just provide banking services through existing infrastructure (some large retail chains, for example IKEA and our largest grocery chain). All banks, but especially the large commercial banks with physical branches charge huge fees for the manual transactions (paying a bill in a physical branch can be $5-$15), as to discourage manual service. Only elderly people use manual bank services these days and physical branches closed in large numbers starting 15 years ago, since most banking moved to the Internet. I haven't used a manual banking service (paid a bill, cashed a check, deposited cash...) in ten years.
I'm not sure what the marginal costs of audits, insurances and so on are for our banks, but apparently lower than the expected income from a customer. You know how McDonalds sell you a $1 item at a loss just to get you in the door (a "loss leader")? - this could well be a case of that, and that would make a lot of sense. As everyone is always paid salary to a bank account here, I imagine the average customer can be pretty attractive; Everyone with a legal employment of any kind will have money in their accounts. The bank just needs to believe that the expected income of a new customer is greater than the marginal costs. I do believe banks here have very nearly zero marginal cost for a customer that opens an account themselves using electronic ID, and never uses a physical branch. I also think the expected future profit from a customer can be pretty big because of how the economy works with high employment and all salaries paid to bank accounts.