The government and the central bank yesterday reiterated their readiness to protect depositors’ savings at IPB. Finance Minister Mertlik said yesterday after a Cabinet meeting that there are several alternative scenarios for stabilizing the bank. Under all of these scenarios, IPB would remain in full operation. In the meantime, the bank itself has faced increased withdrawals of deposits from customers, but reported an easing of the situation yesterday. Prime Minister Zeman said that the government is ready to help depositors, but not the shareholders of IPB. The bank’s stock remains under sustained selling pressure.
(Ondřej Daťka)