JULY 7 (Reuters) — Greek banks will remain closed on Tuesday (July 6) and Wednesday (July 7) and a daily limit on cash withdrawals will stay at 60 euros, the head of the Greek banking association said.
Greek banks were shuttered all last week after the collapse of negotiations on an aid deal and had officially been due to reopen on Tuesday, before Greeks voted resoundingly to reject bailout terms sought by creditors in a referendum on Sunday (July 5).
In the streets of Athens, some Greeks said they were not surprised by the news.
Christina, a 65-year-old pensioner said she remains hopeful that the government will bring some relieve for the population.
“I hope that the banks will open in two days. If there is a further delay, we Greeks can only wait. There is nothing else we can do,” she said.
“It was tough the past five years, It is tough now. Hopefully is going to get better, I guess,” said George, a businessman who lives between Athens and London and keeps two bank accounts.
Fotios Zissis, a pensioner, said he is in favor of the European Union help in order to boost the financial system.
“This guy from the ECB, (Mario) Draghi, must re open the stream of money but, for this to happen, we must implement our programs, the bailout proposal,” Zissis said.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras shut down the banks after his decision to hold a referendum on the Greek bailout on June 27 and imposed capital controls to prevent the collapse of the bank system.
Under the current measures, Greeks are allowed to withdraw 60 euros per day as pensioners have a 120 euro allowance.
The Prime Minister is expected a European leaders meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.
France and Germany told Greece on Monday that the door for negotiations on its debts remained open but Tsipras must come up with serious and credible proposals when he meets euro zone leaders.