Expert: Exchange offices will close, no longer profitable
Economost Yaraslau Ramanchuk reckons the changes will affect the entire commercial banking sector.
On December 22, the National Bank forced the banks to bring the rates of currency purchase from the population to the real selling rate, which is already calculated with additional 30% fee. Some experts believe that this step will lead to the closure of exchange offices.
"Banks are forced to sell the currency, which is also unavailable. Even today, they will be forced to sell at 14,700 - 14,800. And on the market you can get it for 15-16 thousands. They will lose money. Let's also consider the fact that bank profits and income taxes of insurance companies also increased to 25%. The banks are in shock, they do not need this kind of business. I predict that the Bank's commercial activities will be reduced," said economist Yaraslau Ramanchuk.
Starting from the morning of December 23, bank exchange rates in Belarus have made for an unusual scene: the selling rate of dollar and euro have been significantly lower than the purchase rate. The difference may reach up to 3 thousand rubles.
Photos - tut.by
