Congresswoman Maloney makes recommendations for money transfers to Greece
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney announced on Wednesday recommendations on how Greeks can skirt the daily €60 withdraw limit imposed by banks amidst the economic crisis. The capital controls have drawn frustration stateside as transfers to friends and family in the cash-strapped country remain largely inaccessible save for the nominal allotment.
Joined by Councilman Costa Constantinides and Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, both Greek-American, and leaders of Astoria’s Greek community at the Atlantic Bank, Congresswoman Maloney recommended that remittances be made through either foreign-owned banks, or via retail offices of foreign-owned money transfer companies in Greece, such as Western Union. The €60 capital control will not apply in either situation, she said.
The two recommendations were made by the U.S. Treasury Department last week at the urging of Congresswoman Maloney, a co-chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, after constituents brought to her attention the difficulties Greek loved ones had had accessing money transferred to them.
“One woman told me that her family sent her thousands of dollars for an operation, but she can only take the money out in bits at a time,” she said. “Greece is in an economic crisis, and people in the United States want to help by sending money to their friends and family.”