Basically, the GMs don't want you to have tons of money on hand, so they want to "encourage" everyone to remove cash from the game by converting it to GC. They've slowly lowered the bar where they start charging these "fees". I believe it started for amounts over 100T in cash, and the bar has been slowly lowered ever since. Based on CC's statement above, I guess it's around 14T in cash now.
This is from the game news from several months ago:
Financial Services
Financial services are now being paid by all countries and enterprises that have very high levels of Simcountry dollars in cash. Money that is loaned out to others is not included in the cash.
This measure used to be for countries only and is now also effective for CEOs as we have published before. It starts at a very low level for amounts above 100T.
It will increase gradually and end up at the same level as in coun
T
Tuasman (Golden Rainbow)
All worlds
Does this fee apply to cash that u have in your direct trading account?
D
Daelin (Little Upsilon)
All worlds
It doesn't currently apply nor have I seen any indication that the GM's want to apply it to the Direct Trading accounts.
B
BorderC (Little Upsilon)
All worlds
shhhhhhh.
Don't give them any ideas!!!