[ward]

As a confused Belgian, what is meant by "Unlike traditional bank accounts, where you would never share your account number on national television, Bitcoin public addresses are secure"? Giving out your account number in Belgium is pretty secure, nobody can do anything with it beyond putting money on it.

What's different in the USA? What extra info are you handing out by giving your account number beyond "this is a 'bank address' that you can use to send me money"?

[sp332]

If you have a bank account number and the routing number for the bank, you can place a "demand draft." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demand_draft

[tinco]

This is probably similar to "automatische incasso" which probably is also possible in Belgium. But note that an automatic incasso can be reversed, you just have to be aware that it's happening.

[thomasbachem]

I guess that will change next year with SEPA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Euro_Payments_Area

The German equivalent is called ELV/Lastschrift and allows you to retrieve money from a bank account, but the owner can revoke that within a few weeks.

[ojii]

Japan also has a system to automatically withdraw money from someone elses account, eg for rent, but requires the account owner to authorize the other account first. does germany not have that step?