Greek Banking System

Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras is expected to play a key role in seeking money in order to stabilise the situation in the Greek banking sector to the extent possible.

Banks have the mechanisms and strength to highlight and present to depositors alternative products and investment schemes that would offer returns.

As long as banks labour under the weight of non-performing loans (NPLs), there can be no hope.

Only a viable solution that applies to all banks can ensure an effective restructuring of the crucial banking sector.

It is indicative that after the government was sworn in, the first two conferences dealt with the faltering Public Power Corporation (PPC) and the huge issue of non-performing loans (NPLs).

“Moody’s expects a more rapid rate of increase in deposits and a gradual drop in NPLs,” said VP-Senior Credit Officer Nontas Nikolaidis.

The data of the Bank of Greece show that the exposure of Greek banks to non-performing loans (NPLs) amounts to 81.8bn euros, which is 45.4 percent of the total aggregate value of all loans.

We make mistakes and sometimes unpardonable ones, Deputy PM Yannis Dragasakis told Parliament about arrangements on resolving non-performing loans.

The talks will continue at a meeting of the Euro Working Group on 25 March, which will lay the groundwork for decisions to be taken at the next Eurogroup meeting, on 5 April.

The IMF is demanding an emergency plan to confront the prospect of thousands of court decisions ordering the reversal of memorandum-era cutbacks.

The report states that while progress was noted in Greece’s implementation of its post-bailout commitments, there are commitments that have yet to be met, most notably in the banking sector.

With the economy trapped in a polarised pre-electoral climate, there is a significant chance of back pedaling.

The government is expected to table next week the new law that will replace the previous protection framework, the so-called Katseli law, which expires on 28 February.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed the newly appointed ministers that “join forces with us in this crucial phase,” during his opening speech at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. The prime minister said that the national effort that began four years ago for the country exit from the crisis has always had a clear social and political stamp, […]

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is attempting to divert attention from the highly unpopular Prespa Agreement to other issues, such as the planned revision of the Greek Constitution and a shift to thecentre-left.

Initially, the government’s proposal was to protect primary residences with a 250,000-euro tax value ceiling. That ceiling has now been lowered to between 120,000 and 140,000 euros.

Deputy Premier Yannis Dragasakis had warned of the dangers of such an eventuality for taxpayers, who could be called upon to underwrite it.

Second and third-class individuals without substance, without principles, and with obvious deficiencies jump from party to party and from parliamentary group to parliamentary group out of pure self-interest.

It has been evident for quite some time that there is a divergence between the proposals of the banks, the desires of government circles, and the views of Greece’s creditors.