EUROZONE-GREECE/BANKS-PENSIONERS Greece re-opens banks for pensioners

Record ID: 149150

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/BANKS-PENSIONERS Greece re-opens banks for pensioners
  • Date: 1st July 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 01, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PENSIONERS QUEUING OUTSIDE GREECE'S NATIONAL BANK SIGN READING (English): "NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE" VARIOUS OF PENSIONERS STANDING IN FRONT OF BANK'S DOOR PENSIONERS BEING ALLOWED INSIDE BANK PENSIONERS STANDING IN FRONT OF DOOR PEOPLE WITHDRAWING MONEY AT CASH MACHINE OF NATIONAL BANK BRANCH (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) PENSIONER
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7K2TLV5AMY19ZNJF07FMMV459
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greece re-opened 1,000 bank branches on Wednesday (July 1) to cater for pensioners who do not use cash cards for automated teller machines (ATM).
    The country on Wednesday became the first developed economy to default on a loan with the International Monetary Fund.
    Banks are expected to remain closed for other purposes until July 6, as part of capital controls imposed this week to prevent a collapse of the banking system after the European Central Bank froze financial support needed to keep the banks afloat.
    Although ATMs were reopened on Monday (June 29) afternoon, many older people who do not use debit or credit cards were unable to collect their pensions.
    The bank branches opened at 0800 local time (0500GMT).
    In Athens, hundreds of pensioners were queuing since early morning at the door of Greece's National bank where they took turns to enter and collect their money.
    Among those queuing to collect the 120 euro per week allowed by the government was pensioner Vangelis Thomas.
    "Fortunately I had some savings so I was prepared. I knew this would happen. I knew there will be capital controls. I knew it. What they did now was to take money from the pensioners in order to be able to hold the referendum," he said.
    Stavros used to work as a painter. He said he was planning to vote "yes" on Sunday's (July 5) referendum on the EU aid deal for Greece.
    "How is it possible not to worry with all the stupid things they are doing. Very stupid things. They should provide other solutions. How is this possible? This has never happened in the history of human kind."
    Vassilis Argilis said he felt humiliated by having a limit for the amount of money he can withdraw.
    "Today I went to withdraw part of my pension. I worked for forty years and now I have ended up begging for money. I worked for forty years and all our politicians have been deceiving us," Argilis said, adding he will vote "no" on Sunday.
    The finance ministry reiterated assurances that bank deposits would remain safe after Sunday's referendum on the terms of the bailout agreement with foreign lenders which the government has rejected.
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