Greek endgame nears as bank collateral runs dry

Athens

GREEK banks are running short on the collateral they need to stay alive, a crisis that could help force Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' hand after weeks of brinkmanship with creditors.

As deposits flee the financial system, lenders use collateral parked at the Greek central bank to tap more and more emergency liquidity every week. In a worst-case scenario, that lifeline will be maxed out within three weeks, pushing banks toward insolvency, some economists say.