Daily star: Syrians bank deposits withdrawals from Lebanon not leaving

Director general of the Association of Banks in Lebanon that contrary to reports of Syrians withdrawing deposits from Lebanese banks, the banks saw deposits rise 4% in 2005, The Lebanese Daily Star reported.

The Daily Star reported "sources believe that the deposits of non residents account for 17 percent of the total $56 billion deposits, 10 percent of which is believed to belong to Syrian investors," quoting banking professionals saying Syrian deposits in Lebanon are hardly $3 billion, and are held by businessmen, a situation unlikely to change anytime soon in light of the political environment in Syria.