IMAGES. The Greeks flock to banks – Le Parisien

EW | Jul 20, 2015 9:20 | Updated:. July 20, 2015, 9:58

While banks are reopening throughout the country, Greeks rush at the counters to withdraw their savings. A limit of 60 euros per day, however, is maintained until Friday. Illustration. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS

The wait has been long for Greek. Monday morning, banks have finally reopened after three long weeks of closure. The government had preferred to lower the curtain time that discussions with the Eurogroup lead to a medium-term solution.

The restrictions and capital controls remain in place, however, with a cap on cash withdrawals 60 euros per day and a drastic limitation of payments abroad.

Louka Katseli, Union President of Greek banks and the National Bank of Greece, one of the four major banking groups the country on Monday urged users to show composure and bring their savings in banks to support the solvency of the system, it seems unlikely that the crowd is present to deposit his money.

“If we go out of our money safes and -where our houses anyway, it is not security- and that we are introducing in banks, we strengthen liquidity” of the economy, she said on television channel Mega.

 She also recalled that some 40 billion euros had been withdrawn from Greek banks since December, significantly degrading their solvency.

Difficult for Greek to follow these recommendations after living with 60 euros per day for nearly one month. Maria had come to settle an electricity bill which it had been unable to fulfill during the closed banks.

Heavy restrictions remain

Starting Monday, the Greeks may also start using their credit cards, but only for purchases abroad.

 The Greeks receiving medical care abroad can them 2,000 euros out of the country.

 Otherwise, capital controls remain in place, that is to say that the Greeks can not transfer money abroad or out large sums in cash or open new accounts in their country . Relief half-tone

If this set of constraints must prevent cascading failures of Greek banks, locks strangling the economy. The capital controls have already cost 3 billion euros to Greece, out of the tourism sector, according to the center-right newspaper Kathimerini.