ATHENS - Greeks queued outside banks on Monday as they reopened three weeks after closing to stop the system collapsing under a flood of withdrawals, the first cautious sign of a return to normal after a deal to start talks on a new package of bailout reforms. However capital controls will remain and payments and wire transfers abroad will still not be possible - a situation which German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday was 'not a normal life' and warranted swift negotiations on a new bailout. Limits on cash withdrawals have been made slightly more flexible, with a weekly limit of 420 euros in place of the daily 60 euro limit previously. 'Capital controls and restrictions on withdrawals will remain in place but we are entering a new stage which we all hope will be one of normality,' said Louka Katseli, head of the Greek bank association.
(photo credit: The Jerusalem Post)