Fear grows over Greek banks as withdrawals accelerate

2015-06-19 22

With the country’s debt talks deadlocked, there is fear on the streets of Greece.

Euronews correspondent Symela Touchtidou has spent the day talking to Greek people in Athens.

“Anxiety began to build here after Thursday’s Eurogroup failed to make any progress in negotiations,” she says. “There have been queues outside banks and ATMs since early this morning.”

With no deal in the horizon, people fear that the government will have to impose capital controls. They are going to the bank to withdraw their deposits.

One man Euronews spoke to withdrew 16 000 euros this morning. “They told me I could only have two thousand,” he said. “When I came back again to get another two thousand, they told me I will have to come back on Monday to get the rest.”

“Of course we are taking our money out, admitted another, “it’s insecurity and fear. I have not taken everything out, I am withdrawing it bit by bit.”

At least two billion euros have been withdrawn this week alone. Reuters news agency

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