One of Greece's largest banks says it will wipe away the debts of clients who owe up to 20,000 euros ($21,600) in a one-off gesture to ease the burden on its crisis-hit customers.
The Bank of Piraeus decided to write off or restructure debts in response to the "humanitarian crisis" through which its poorest clients were living, the company said in a statement.
Debts of up to 20,000 euros linked to credit cards and consumer loans would be written off completely, it said, while mortagage payments would be frozen and any associated interest forgiven.
Several bank bosses have left their posts since Greece's radical left Syriza government came to power in January, with Piraeus a notable exception.
Clients must already be enrolled in a newly-launched government benefits scheme to be eligible for the debt relief.
Syriza pushed new social safety net legislation, part of the platform on which it was swept to power, through parliament last month despite pressure from the EU to drop the measures.
It also includes housing support and subsidised food purchases to aid those who have fallen into poverty as a result of the EU-IMF austerity measures imposed on the country.
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