“While ordinary Cypriots queued at ATM machines to withdraw a few hundred euros as credit card transactions stopped, other depositors used an array of techniques to access their money.
No one knows exactly how much money has left Cyprus’ banks, or where it has gone. The two banks at the centre of the crisis – Cyprus Popular Bank, also known as Laiki, and Bank of Cyprus – have units in London which remained open throughout the week and placed no limits on withdrawals. Bank of Cyprus also owns 80 percent of Russia’s Uniastrum Bank, which put no restrictions on withdrawals in Russia. Russians were among Cypriot banks’ largest depositors.
If, as we are led to believe, the billions held in Cyprus banks by Russians has been moved, then someone, other than the account holder, knows where it is now.
More shameful if that money is of dubious origin.
The cause of the problems in the banking industry have been laid at the door of the banks and the government. If this has happened whilst ordinary Cypriots have been restricted to a severely limited amount via the ATM’s, what does it tell us? What have they learned from past mistakes, will they mend their ways? Not a promising start.
Banks remain closed in the Republic of Cyprus till Thursday but as with previous reports, this could change.
I leave it for you to decide.
Power to the people
Citizen Smith
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