Greek banks are preparing contingency plans for a possible “haircut” on deposits amid fears of financial collapse, the Financial Times reported on Friday, ahead of a referendum that may decide the country’s future in the euro zone.
Greek leaders have repeatedly dismissed the possibility they will have to “bail-in” depositors to prevent the collapse of the banking system.
But citing bankers and businesspeople with knowledge of the measures, the Financial Times reported: “The plans, which call for a ‘haircut’ of at least 30 percent on deposits above 8,000 euros, sketch out an increasingly likely scenario for at least one bank”.
The report quoted a source as saying: “It (the haircut) would take place in the context of an overall restructuring of the bank sector once Greece is back in a bailout programme.”
Greek banking representatives were not immediately reachable to verify the report.