Will banks open Monday?

In a radio interview, Mardas said that banks will able to offer more services to customers but only on an accounting form, such as money transfer from one account to another bank account. This will also include bank checks and bills.

Transactions will be made normally but no cash will be paid. The only exception will be made for exporting enterprises, shipping companies and tourist enterprises which are bringing new money in the country and can use only 80 pct of this money for their payment obligations. Mardas said that credit cards can be used normally abroad, although no cash can be raised from ATMs, while he stressed that the government was trying to resolve some problems with roaming and other participations, such as Google. He said that a ministerial decision next week will address these issues, mostly concerning telecommunication services.

However, a reopening of Greek banks on Monday is not a done deal yet, Austrian central bank governor and ECB Governing Council member Ewald Nowotny said on Friday in a radio interview.

“That’s not fixed yet, there is still some examination to do,” he said in ORF radio, when he was asked about a reopening on Monday.

He also said it can take six to eight weeks until the new bailout programme would be ready to start.