ECB said to be studying curbs on Greek bank aid

Frankfurt

THE European Central Bank (ECB) is studying measures to rein in emergency funding for Greek banks as resistance to further aiding the country's stricken lenders grows among policymakers, people with knowledge of the discussions said.

ECB staff have proposed increasing the discounts imposed on the securities banks post as collateral when borrowing from the Bank of Greece, the people said, asking not to be named as the matter is private. While adjusting these so-called haircuts hasn't been formally discussed by the Governing Council, it may be considered if Greece's leaders fail to quickly convince euro-area finance ministers they can reform their economy and secure bailout funds, one of the people said. Greek bank stocks slid.