Greek central bank

Qatar National Bank (QNB), the Gulf Arab region's largest bank, has agreed to buy Turkey's Finansbank from the National Bank of Greece (NBG) for 2.7 billion euros ($2.95 billion), as it steps up its search for larger markets overseas. With the latest acquisition, Qatari companies have strengthened their hands in the Turkish market. 

Qatar National Bank SAQ , the Gulf Arab region's largest bank, reached an agreement with National Bank of Greece to acquire the latter's entire 99.81 percent stake in Turkey's Finansbank for 2.7 billion euros ($2.95 billion), the two banks said on Dec. 22.

A double cyber attack on Greek banks has been taking place with precision over four days. A group of hackers has launched therats against the e-banking systems of three Greek banks seeking a ransom in bitcoin. Meanwhile, there are leaks of Greek debit and credit card data that  have been used for transactions with the United States in recent days.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday announced a bank holiday and capital controls in Greece after Greeks responded to his surprise call for a referendum on bailout terms by pulling money out of banks.

Tsipras blamed European partners and the European Central Bank for forcing Greece?s hand but said that would not halt the plan to hold a referendum next Sunday.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to end its emergency lending to Greek banks at the forthcoming meeting of its governing council on Sunday.

According to sources, Greece will probably have to "announce bank holiday on Monday, pending the introduction of capital controls", the BBC reports.

By Paul Gordon

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi is convening his Governing Council on Sunday for an extraordinary meeting to discuss Greece.

The European Central Bank (ECB) approved the amount of emergency funding (ELA) that Athens had requested for its banks on Thursday said a banking source.

“The Bank of Greece got approval for the ELA it requested. If necessary, the ECB Governing Council will convene again over the next 24 hours,” said the source without revealing the exact amount of funding.

By Christos Ziotis

The European Central Bank raised emergency funding for Greek lenders for the third time in less than a week, a person familiar with the decision said.

Greece's banking system remains stable, the central bank governor said in a statement on Friday, seeking to calm worries after a surge in bank deposit outflows this week.

The Greek Central Bank warned on June 17 that the country would be put on a ?painful course? towards default and exiting the eurozone if the government and its international creditors failed to reach an agreement on an aid-for-reforms deal.