Economic history of Italy

Interest rates will remain extremely low for an extended period of time due to the Covid-19 crisis, leading bankers predicted at the Banks and Business conference.

A new partial moratorium on obligations is not expected, as it would not have such great effect, added Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Kalin Hristov.

Local and many other European credit institutions have submitted a request to the European Banking Authority for the inclusion of new loans in a repayment moratorium. The deadline for a bank to apply a payment freeze due to Covid-19 expired on September 30, but the intensity of the crisis and the successive lockdowns are forcing the supervising authorities to review their position.

Greek payments company Viva Wallet is seeking to raise half a billion euros to support its digital banking operations, two sources told Reuters, eight months after securing a banking licence through a merger with Praxia Bank.

The three largest Turkish state-owned banks have unveiled new advantageous loan packages in four categories in a bid to help stimulating the economy as the country relieves the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

National Bank (NBG) and Alpha, two of Greece's largest lenders, increased provisions to cover anticipated loan impairments from the coronavirus crisis as they kicked off the first quarter earnings season for the sector on Thursday.

Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said on Friday, at a meeting with leaders of the Romanian Association of Banks (ARB), that the success of the economic rebuilding plan lies in the partnership with the financial and banking systems.

Total credit in Greece's banking system expanded 0.7 percent year-on-year in March after a 1.0 percent decline in the previous month, Bank of Greece data showed on Friday.

[Reuters]

Fifteen banks in Turkey have been fined nearly 20 million Turkish liras, the country's banking watchdog announced on May 15. 

Greek banks on Wednesday joined the country's battle to secure liquidity and replace the funds the government is drawing from the state's cash buffer so as to finance the support measures for the economy and businesses.

The possibility of mergers between Greece's systemic banks is strong according to 78 percent of credit sector officials, while even more professionals in the sector (79 percent) anticipate a shrinking of the network by more than 20 percent.