Chairman of Belarusbank, the largest in Belarus, Nadezhda Ermakova, has acknowledged shortage of foreign currency in exchange offices of the bank. According to the head of Belarusbank, the resolution of the National Bank to set exchange rates alone hasn't caused currency inflows into exchange offices.
So, the Belarusians handed $600 thousand to Belarusbank and bought $580 thousand on April 11 (first day after the abolition of exchange rate recommendations by the National Bank). It’s noteworthy that Belarusbank sells currency to the population for medical treatment and study abroad at a new rate of Br4.000, AFN.
As Telegraf previously reported, May 11, 2011, National Bank lifted restrictions on the banks’ establishment of exchange rates in foreign currency buy-and-sell transactions with the public. As a result, the Belarusian commercial banks devalued the ruble by about 30% on the same day, setting a dollar at the level of Br3.9 — Br4 thousand, the euro — Br5.7 — 5.9 thousand.
