PATIENT Cypriots formed orderly queues and waited in the sun for their banks to reopen after nearly two cash-starved weeks, but many expressed anger at the island's European partners.
Despite fears of a bank run that led the island to impose harsh capital controls, some Cypriots were even depositing money instead of withdrawing it following the closure of the banks on March 16.
Even when some branches opened some 20 minutes after the scheduled time of 1000 GMT (2100 AEDT) the situation stayed calm, in the presence of packs of foreign journalists who in some cases outnumbered the Cypriots themselves.
Kyriakos Vourghouri, owner of a minimarket, waved a deposit slip showing an amount of 678 euros ($A835.70) as he emerged from the bank.
"I didn't withdraw any money. I deposited money," he told AFP.
"The problem is not in Cyprus, it is in Europe, which has become gangrenous."
Dozens of people queued outside the banks in Nicosia for about an hour before the opening time, which was finally announced late Wednesday after repeated delays while Cypriot authorities tried to avert financial meltdown.
Banks posted armed guards outside many branches while tellers, who unlike in other European countries are not housed behind glass security, urged customers not to vent their frustrations on them.
Guards dished out Greek-language copies of a decree issued by Finance Minister Michalis Sarris, which imposes limits on how much of their capital they can touch, including a daily 300 euro withdrawal limit.
The calm after the storm defied the sombre predictions of one Cypriot queuing outside a branch of Laiki, or Popular bank, which will be wound up as part of the bailout deal Cyprus negotiated with its creditors.
"It will be a very bad day - there will be swearing and a lot of anger," Philippos Philippou, an unemployed electrician wearing a purple sweatshirt, said outside Laiki in Nicosia's Makarios Street.
About 12 people were queuing up outside the branch while witnesses saw queues of at least 25 people at other banks in the city.
A bearded man, wearing a blue sweatshirt, who would not give his name, said: "I will take all my money slowly, slowly."
He said he believed the panic would last a week or two. "After that things will return to normal, but with less money."
Depositors face severe restrictions to prevent a run on the banks that could wreak havoc on the island's already fragile economy.
Some Cypriots said there was no point in queuing when the amounts involved were so small.
"I'm not going to the bank today. I have to be in the shop these hours. There's going to be queues so I'm not going to spend so many hours there to get 300 euros," said Roula Spyrou, 50, a jewellery shop owner.
Under a deal agreed in Brussels on Monday, Cyprus must raise 5.8 billion euros to qualify for a 10 billion euro bailout from the "troika" of the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Depositors with more than 100,000 euros in the top two banks - Bank of Cyprus (BoC) and Laiki - face losing a large chunk of their money. Laiki will be wrapped up and largely absorbed by the larger BoC.
Many customers were angry with the EU - and particularly its economic powerhouse Germany.
"It's not the European Union, it's a German union to destroy us, everyone wants to destroy Cyprus," said Giorgiano, a kiosk owner.
"It's the first time I feel like this since 1974," he added, referring to the occupation of northern Cyprus by Turkish troops.
An elderly man with white hair added: "I have a Mercedes but from now on I will never again buy anything from Germany."
Another man standing in the queue said that in the end Germany will be the loser.
"Look on the streets and you will see that 70 per cent of the cars are Mercedes and BMWs. People will stop buying them and dealerships will close one by one," he said.
Banking employees union ETYK said staff were ready to go back to work but urged the public not to blame them for the tight controls imposed on their capital.
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