Greek lenders may run out of collateral in 14 weeks, says JP Morgan
LONDON – Greek banks are losing around 2 billion euros of deposits a week, a pace of outflows which, if maintained, will see them run out of collateral for new loans in 14 weeks, according to JP Morgan.
This is based on its calculation that of a maximum 108 billion euros of financing available from the European Central Bank and Greek central bank, Greek banks have already used up 80 billion euros, leaving them with 28 billion euros if needed.
This estimate of Greek banks’ access to funding comes amid confusion about how long they can continue to function while the standoff between Athens and its international creditors over Greece’s bailout program persists.
Debt-laden Greece and its eurozone creditors are having crunch talks in Brussels this week on the future of the bailout, which Athens wants renegotiated.
Much of the remaining collateral for the funds available to Greek banks is in the form of EFSF (European Financial Stability Facility) bonds from eurozone creditors disbursed in 2012-13 to recapitalize the country’s lenders, JP Morgan said.
Total deposit outflows from Greek banks, which JP Morgan estimates by using a proxy of Greek demand for money market funds overseas, stand at 21 billion euros so far this year.
Banking sources have told Reuters that deposit outflows are running at an average of 300-500 million euros a day.
[Reuters]
