Dollar reaches Br11,500, no foreign cash in currency exchange offices

Minsk residents say many currency exchange offices do not have foreign cash.

The main topic in Minsk is the growing exchange rate. Belarusians prefer not to risk and exchange rubles for dollars despite Lukashenka's statement that no devaluation is expected.

About 20 people came to a Belarusbank office in Kalinin Street. Most of them close their ruble deposits to buy foreign currency or simply convert rubles into foreign currency. The bank office ran out of dollars and euros at about 12:00. Banks sell only what they purchased from clients, Nasha Niva reports.

A similar situation can be observed at a Belarusbank office near Victory Square. The office cannot place all people in the queue. An ATM has no cash.

Internet users report about the lack of foreign currency in many exchange offices. The exchange rate at the offices that still sell dollars is higher than the official one.

Most currency exchange offices of Belarusbank raised the exchange rate to 11,490 rubles a dollar. Bank Moscow-Minsk, BelVEB and BSB Bank sell dollars at 11,500 rubles. The highest rate of Br11,600 a dollar belongs to Absolutbank.

The US dollar cost 11,020-11,050 rubles yesterday morning. The exchange rate has risen 4% for the past day.

The National Bank does not react to the situation in the foreign currency market. The official ruble/dollar exchange rate continues to grow 10 rubles daily. The official exchange rate for tomorrow is 10,890 rubles.

The difference between the official exchange rate and that offered by banks reaches 6.5% that may create two parallel exchange rates.