The real difference is that automated decisions in bank software systems are risk mitigation failsafes, and only make "negative decisions", the kind that refuse

The real difference is that automated decisions in bank software systems are risk mitigation failsafes, and only make "negative decisions", the kind that refuse something that the bank is at a liberty to refuse. So they never need to be held accountable in this sense, they never choose the risky path. Bank automation is like a human first making a "yes" decision, then calling a lawyer to ask if they should go ahead with it, and changing their mind if a lawyer advises not to go ahead. orig | auto | result no | n/a | no yes | yes | yes yes | no | no