Three billion euros exit Greek banks this week

ECB-BoG back and forth to keep Greek banks afloat with cash

Sources within Greece’s banking system warned on Friday that the day will be the “toughest yet” in terms of fleeing deposits, a day after yet another inconclusive Eurogroup meeting on the cash-for-reforms Greek agreement. Up to 300 million euros exited Greek banks earlier in the week, with the gap reaching one billion euros per day towards the end of the week, with three billion euros withdrawn between Monday and Thursday.

A figure of 1.1 billion euro of the ELA allocated by the ECB on Wednesday proved insufficient before the wave of outflows. According to sources, BoG Director Yannis Stournaras — the one with the two “n” in his first name — has already presented a formal request of emergency liquidity of 3 billion in order for Greek banks to have liquidity on Monday, when an extraordinary Euro summit is convened to focus entirely on the Greek issue.

Even though BoG sources denied the reports, it seems the ECB will agree to Greece’s request in order to avoid any (weekend) capital controls for the country’s banking system prior to the summit.