16.02.2015 - Turkish banks capitalize on savers’ preference for gold
From the outside, it looks like any other automatic bank machine on the streets of Istanbul. But rather than notes, this one distributes small pieces of gold. Gold is hugely prized in Turkey not just for ornamentation or investment by banks but as a secure way for private individuals to hold their savings. Many people in Turkey – which has one of the lowest private savings rates among major economies – keep gold as security for a “rainy day” rather than products offered by banks. According to estimates, Turks hold some 3,500 tons of gold. Banks have sought to capitalize on the tradition by offering accounts denominated in gold...............................................Full Article: Source
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