Cypriot banks reopened today for the first time since 16 March, although transactions are subject to certain limits.
The controls aim to prevent a run on the banks in the aftermath of a bailout deal for Cyprus that involves a loss on deposits in its two main banks.
There were long queues outside several banks in Nicosia before they opened for business.
Guards from a private security firm reinforced police outside some ATMs and banks in the city.
Technical difficulties resulted in the opening of Laiki bank branches being delayed for around 30 minutes.
Overall the situation remained calm, for the most part, with no obvious signs of a major run taking place.
Yiangos Demetriou, head of internal audit at the Cypriot Central Bank, said no cheque payments for any purpose will be allowed and account owners will not be able to withdraw more than €300 per day.
The decree will stay in place for four days, but this duration can be extended up to a month, depending on circumstances.
Banks opened for transactions between midday and 6pm local time, instead of the normal 8.30am to 1pm, giving employees time to be briefed on the new arrangements.
No limits will be placed on credit card transaction amounts, but wiring money between banks either locally or abroad will not be permitted except for commercial transactions of up to €5,000.
A special committee will be set up to examine applications for transactions of €5,000 through €200,000, which will be submitted collectively by each bank.
Applications for transactions of over €200,000 will be submitted and examined individually.
Mr Demetriou said that payments of salaries will be allowed in unlimited amounts, provided that they do not involve transferring money to other banks, while bill payments to banks through standing orders will be done normally.
Account owners will be allowed to make electronic bill payments and transfer money between accounts within the same bank.
Students abroad will be permitted to draw €3,000 every three months.
Mr Demetriou said he was confident that people have come to understand the critical situation the country is facing and that there is no point in withdrawing money just to stash it away at home.
Eurozone finance ministers approved a new bailout plan for Cyprus early on Monday, which would wind down the country's second largest bank, Laiki, and levy a tax on bank savings deposits over €100,000.
The deal is crucial for Cyprus to raise €5.8bn in order to secure a €10bn bailout from international lenders.
Cypriot Parliament Speaker Yiannakis Omirou said the country's banking sector was beginning to operate again.
He said: "The Central Bank decided on some limitations, so we are sure that slowly, slowly we are going back to functioning of the banks without serious problems.
"Some problems I'm sure will be created, but our people are ready to overcome the difficult moments we are passing."
However, the country's stock exchange will stay closed over Easter because the system of interbank payments throughout the European Union will not be working.
The last trading session of the exchange was on 15 March.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Limits on transactions as Cyprus banks reopen
Dengan url
http://newsdeadlineup.blogspot.com/2013/03/limits-on-transactions-as-cyprus-banks.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Limits on transactions as Cyprus banks reopen
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Limits on transactions as Cyprus banks reopen
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar