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Big depositors in Cyprus to lose far more
Big depositors in Cyprus's largest bank stand to lose far more than initially feared under a European Union rescue package to save the island from bankruptcy, a source with direct knowledge of the terms said on Friday.

Under conditions expected to be announced on Saturday, depositors in Bank of Cyprus will get shares in the bank worth 37.5 percent of their deposits over 100,000 euros, the source told Reuters, while the rest of their deposits may never be paid back.

In other words, they will not lose everything above the legally covered amount.
Legally, it could have been all above the 100,000 euro amount -- not that anyone wants to think about that. As an aside, what's the covered amount in the U.S.?
The toughening of the terms will send a clear signal that the bailout means the end of Cyprus as a hub for offshore finance
Indeed. It was a good scam while it lasted.
See, Russian mobsters? Next time do it right and put yer money into Switzerland. Go with the folks who have been laundering dirty money for centuries...
and could accelerate economic decline on the island and bring steeper job losses. Officials had previously spoken of a loss to big depositors of 30 to 40 percent.
"Pray we don't alter the deal further..."
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday defended the 10-billion euro ($13 billion) bailout deal agreed with the EU five days ago, saying it had contained the risk of national bankruptcy.

"We have no intention of leaving the euro," the conservative leader told a conference of civil servants in the capital, Nicosia. "In no way will we experiment with the future of our country."

Cypriots, however, are angry at the price attached to the rescue - the winding down of the island's second-largest bank, Cyprus Popular Bank, also known as Laiki, and an unprecedented raid on deposits over 100,000 euros. Under the terms of the deal, the assets of Laiki bank will be transferred to Bank of Cyprus.

At Bank of Cyprus, about 22.5 percent of deposits over 100,000 euros will attract no interest, the source said. The remaining 40 percent will continue to attract interest, but will not be repaid unless the bank does well. Those with deposits under 100,000 euros will continue to be protected under the state's deposit guarantee.
Posted by: Steve White 2013-03-31
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=365187