The Co-operative Bank has admitted breaking the law and charging too-high fees

It's paid out 7.2 million dollars, to almost 50-thousand customers, with the High Court still to decide a penalty.

The Commerce Commission says Co-operative Bank charged 12 unreasonable fees, including for home loan establishment and overdraft facilities.

It says the bank's conduct - mostly between 2015 and 2021 - fell well short of what's expected of a responsible lender.