Lebanese protesters gather in front of a Credit Libanais bank in Saida to protest against nationwide imposed restrictions on dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad in an attempt to conserve dwindling foreign currency reserves. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Depositor Hussein Shukr, who entered a branch of Crédit Libanais bank in Haret Hreik, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Wednesday morning in an attempt to recover his illegally blocked savings, left the bank with part of his deposit after a settlement was reached with the bank.
Moussa Agathy, a spokesperson of Cry of the Depositors, told L’Orient Today that Shukr was given “his full Lebanese lira deposit, which is LL268 million, and $3,000 of his $48,000 deposit from his 'fresh dollar' account and left for home after a settlement with the bank was reached."
Shukr's lira deposit amounts to $180,000 at the official rate and $7,000 on the parallel market rate. Agathy said part of the settlement was an agreement between Shukr and the bank to keep his account open.
Lebanon has experienced a string of recent bank holdups by angry depositors demanding to withdraw their own funds. Some of these actions were "coordinated" by associations defending the rights of depositors, lawyer and activist Rami Ollaik confirmed to L'Orient Today.
Earlier today, Forces of Change MP Cynthia Zarazir entered a Byblos Bank branch in Antelias, Mount Lebanon, unarmed, to demand part of her blocked savings. She managed to recover part of her blocked savings in order to pay for a surgery, the MP told L'Orient Today by phone.
In Jbeil, north of Beirut, a man fired a machine gun at a Bank of Beirut branch, after the bank reportedly denied him entry without a prior appointment.
On Tuesday, depositors attempted to forcibly withdraw their funds from the Lebanese Bank for Commerce (BLC) in Chtaura, in the Bekaa; Intercontinental Bank of Lebanon (IBL) in Hazmieh, in the suburbs of Beirut; and Byblos Bank in Sour.