Hellenic Bank Association

The parameters of the adverse scenario stress tests scheduled in February on Greece's banks, with an emphasis on property values, will be at the focus of talks between the Hellenic Bank Association, led by Nikos Karamouzis, and the head of the European Central Bank's Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), Daniele Nouy, on January 15.

Most of the 65 CDs containing the data of 1.3 million taxpayers that the Hellenic Bank Association had supplied to the monitoring authorities are to be archived, following a decision by the Council of State, as the majority of cases are covered by the statute of limitations.

Brussels and Frankfurt were displeased on Thursday to learn of statements by Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis and Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Wednesday, according to which there is a deal between the government and the banks that no homes valued at less than 300,000 euros should be sold at foreclosure auctions.

Leading International Monetary Fund officials and Greek credit sector representatives agreed at a meeting in Washington on Thursday that any capital injection for local lenders will have to depend on the progress and results of their efforts to reduce nonperforming loan portfolios.

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, is to meet on Thursday afternoon with the head of the Hellenic Bank Association, Nikos Karamouzis, and executives of Greek banks in London.

The aim of the meeting is to convince the Fund of the stability of Greek banks, according to sources.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and other cabinet members met on Friday with the board of the Hellenic Bank Association and heard leading bankers urge the government to proceed with the necessary reforms for the economy to achieve sustainable growth.

The government is considering the introduction of a monthly limit - instead of the existing biweekly one - for cash withdrawals at 1,800 euros in the context of a partial relaxation of capital controls, spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Thursday.

Entrepreneurs with debts to the state and the banks will as of August 5 be able to apply to settle their arrears under the so-called extrajudicial mechanism, while according to the deputy governor of the Bank of Greece, Theodoros Mitrakos, online property auctions will be in full swing by late August.

Government Vice President Yiannis Dragasakis and top government officials will meet with the heads of the banking system at 13.00, according to ANA’s sources, to discuss financing methods of the economy.

The President of the Hellenic Bank Association, Nikos Karamouzis expressed his grave concerns about the dangers for the country’s systemic banks in relation to the non-performing loans. The Greek banker went on question the effectiveness of the legislation submitted by the Greek government regarding the issue of out of court settlements for arrears.