Banks reopen as Greece pays billions to creditors

ATHENS, July 21 (AFP): Greece's government hiked taxes and paid billions of euros to its creditors on Monday as banks reopened just days after the debt-laden country reached a reforms-for-cash deal with its European partners.
Greeks woke up to widespread tax rises -- on everything from sugar and cocoa to condoms, taxis and funerals -- as part of the tough reform package agreed last week in exchange for a three-year bailout of up to 86 billion euros ($93 billion) aimed at keeping Greece from crashing out of the eurozone.
The nation's banks were thronged with customers after a three-week shutdown estimated to have cost the economy 3.0 billion euros. The banks were ordered to close on June 29 to prevent mass cash withdrawals that could have caused the financial system to collapse.
Banks are continuing to offer only limited services -- with a ban on most transfers to foreign banks among the capital control measures still in place -- but a daily cash withdrawal limit of 60 euros ($65) has been relaxed.
Bank tellers were dealing with a hectic stream of customers, many expressing frustration over continuing restrictions on financial services.
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