Bank of Greece

The parliamentary committee that examines the derivation of wealth ("pothen esches") forms submitted by politicians and public servants said on Wednesday that it is shelving a case involving Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras.

A prosecutors' report alleging that Swiss drugs manufacturer Novartis bribed Greek government officials has fuelled a vehement row between the government and conservative New Democracy, Greece's main opposition party. 

Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras has denied involvement in the alleged Novartis bribery scandal, saying that accusations against him are politically motivated and that are aimed at "pushing me out of the Bank of Greece."

Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras declared on Tuesday that he is not intimidated by attacks against him, emphasizing that his role demands that he issue warnings about threats to the Greek economy. 

Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras is a trusted member of the European Central Bank's Governing Council who has worked hard for Greece's benefit, ECB head Mario Draghi said on Monday in response to a question at the European Parliament about the probe into the Greek central banker in connection with the alleged leaking of the conclusions on Piraeus Bank and Attica Bank.

Greece's banks have shown progress in tackling a stockpile of non-performing loans, Bank of Greece governor Yiannis Stournaras said on Friday, but said it would remain a key challenge for the country going forward.

With the International Monetary Fund backing down from its demand for an asset quality review (AQR), Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras is urging banks to accelerate efforts to reorganize their portfolios through the sale of loans, auctions and making viable adjustments.

Greece's central bank dismissed claims by hacking group Anonymous that it had accessed confidential internal files, saying on Wednesday the material was already in the public domain.

Anonymous responded by warning that it was merely testing out the bank's defenses and could step up its attack.

Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras has distanced himself from the government's plan for an immediate return to the bond markets, arguing on Tuesday that it is "rather early" and saying that two or three landmark privatizations must be completed first to regain investor confidence.

Bank of Greece governor Yannis Stournaras has called for international creditors to provide more detail on the debt relief they will provide the country, while calling for lower primary budget surplus targets.

"The Greek economy cannot withstand another year of uncertainty," Stournaras told the Economist conference in Frankfurt on Wednesday.