(44)The merger of credit institutions or the conversion of a subsidiary into a branch or vice versa, might affect the key features of depositor protection. To avoid adverse impacts on depositors with deposits in both merging credit institutions and whose claims to deposit coverage would be reduced by changes to DGS affiliation, all depositors should be informed about such changes and should have the right to withdraw their funds or transfer them to another credit institution up to an amount equal to the lost coverage of their deposits without incurring a penalty.