Following the government-debt and political crisis in Greece, the Greek government has introduced several measures to attract foreign investors and entrepreneurs to the country to give a boost to the economy. In particular, non-EU nationals are granted a five-year residence permit when buying a property valued 250,000 EUR or higher. Financially independent persons including retirees are also eligible for a residence permit.
Although there is no formal requirement on having a local bank account when getting a residency or buying a property in Greece, Greece has implemented a number of restrictions on the use of cash, so having a bank account can be useful in everyday activities. Banking services in Greece are available not only to Greece residents, but also to non-residents, both individuals and companies. Greek banks are rather conservative and require a branch visit to open an account.
Greek banks do not provide online account opening option, however some banking products are offered online to existing bank customers.
When opening an account for a new customer, Greek banks are required to obtain the following details and supporting documents (according to the Law 3691/2008 and decision no. 281/5/17.3.2009 of the Bank of Greece, Banking and Credit Committee):
Apart from branch banking, all of the banks provide online banking services to access the account.
Accounts can be opened in Euros as well as in foreign currencies.
Banks in Greece are connected to SWIFT, so the banks can send and receive SWIFT transfers.
Greece is a member of SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area), so Greek banks are able to send and receive SEPA Credit Transfers (SCT) and SEPA Direct Debits (SDD); the banks will progressively adhere to other SEPA schemes, for instance SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst).
Visa and MasterCard payment cards are normally offered by banks in Greece.
Banks listed below offer their websites, online banking interface and mobile applications in both Greek and English. Customer support teams serve customers in Greek and English.
Name | Currencies | Card Providers | Transfers | Website Languages |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUROBANK S.A. | EUR | Visa MasterCard | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek English |
PIRAEUS BANK SA | EUR AUD CAD CHF + 6 more | Visa MasterCard | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek English |
ProCredit Bank (Bulgaria) EAD | EUR | Visa | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek English |
SANTANDER CONSUMER FINANCE, S.A., Greek Branch | MasterCard | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | ||
T.C. Ziraat Bankasi A.S. | EUR TRY USD GBP | n/a | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek English Turkish |
Optima bank S.A. | EUR USD CHF GBP + 6 more | MasterCard | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek English |
National Bank of Greece | EUR USD CHF GBP + 7 more | Visa MasterCard | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek English |
Attica Bank S.A. | EUR | Visa MasterCard | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek English |
BMW Austria Bank GmbH | n/a | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek | |
CA Auto Bank GmbH - Hellenic Branch | Visa | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek | |
Aegean Baltic Bank S.A. | Visa | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek English | |
Alpha Bank S.A. | EUR foreign currencies | Visa MasterCard Diners Club | SWIFT transfersSEPA credit transfers SEPA direct debits | Greek English |
Established in 1990, Eurobank is a part of Eurobank Group (Greece), a robust financial organisation which develops financial products and services, focusing on customers and their needs. Eurobank Group operates with transparency, builds credibility and applies modern corporate governance practices. Eurobank is a universal commercial bank, offering products and services in retail, private, business, corporate banking and wealth management to individuals, SMEs and business entities.
EUROBANK S.A. is the 4th largest bank in Greece in terms of total assets. In 2023 its total assets were 62 321,00 mln EUR, providing the bank with the market share of 19.40%. In 2023 the bank's net income was 794,00 mln EUR.
EUROBANK S.A. provides products and services in the areas of retail banking, private banking, business banking. EUROBANK S.A. offers a range of products including current accounts, children savings accounts, pension accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, mutual funds, debit cards, prepaid cards, credit cards, consumer loans, mortgage loans.
Founded in 1916, Piraeus Bank is one of the largest banking groups in Greece serving customers on its domestic market with a very small presence abroad. Operating as a universal bank, Piraeus Bank is particularly focused on medium-sized and small enterprises, agricultural banking, consumer and mortgage credit and green banking, capital markets and investment banking, as well as leasing and factoring.
Piraeus Bank S.A. is a wholly owned banking subsidiary of Piraeus Financial Holdings S.A., a financial holdings company, listed on the Athens Stock Exchange.
PIRAEUS BANK SA is the 1st largest bank in Greece in terms of total assets. In 2023 its total assets were 76 151,00 mln EUR, providing the bank with the market share of 23.71%. In 2023 the bank's net income was 667,00 mln EUR.
PIRAEUS BANK SA provides products and services in the areas of retail banking, private banking, business banking, corporate banking. PIRAEUS BANK SA offers a range of products including current accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, structured deposit accounts, debit cards, prepaid cards, credit cards, consumer loans, mortgage loans, mutual funds.
ProCredit Bank (Bulgaria) EAD is a member of ProCredit Group, a financial group headquartered in Germany and consisting of 13 banks operating in developing countries of Eastern Europe and Latin America. The group's business focus is providing lending products to small- and medium-sized companies. ProCredit Group also provides a range of retail banking products to natural persons.
ProCredit Bank (Bulgaria) EAD operates as a branch of ProCredit Bank (Bulgaria) EAD (Bulgaria).
ProCredit Bank (Bulgaria) EAD is the 8th largest bank in Greece in terms of total assets. In 2022 its total assets were 469,27 mln EUR, providing the bank with the market share of 0.14%.
ProCredit Bank (Bulgaria) EAD is focused on providing lending products to small- and medium-sized companies. ProCredit Bank (Bulgaria) EAD provides products and services in the areas of retail banking, business banking. ProCredit Bank (Bulgaria) EAD offers a range of products including current accounts, debit cards, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, company accounts, international payments, credit lines to finance working capital, amortization loans, annuity term loans, bank guarantees.
Established in 1863, Ziraat Bank is Turkey’s most deeply rooted bank, and offers the widest range of banking services in Turkey and is one of the country’s biggest banks offering retail, private, corporate and invesment banking products and services to domestic and international clients. T.C. Ziraat Bankasi A.S. (Greek Branch) provides retail and corporate banking products and services to straighten the connection between Greece and Turkey.
T.C. Ziraat Bankasi A.S. provides products and services in the areas of retail banking, business banking, corporate banking, trade finance, check clearing. T.C. Ziraat Bankasi A.S. offers a range of products including current accounts, time deposit accounts, overdraft loans, consumer loans, mortgage loans, business loans.
Optima Bank was established in July 2019, following the acquisition of the Investment Bank of Greece by Ireon Investments (Greece). Optima Bank aims to become a simple, flexible and contemporary bank that responds promptly and effectively to the needs of individuals and modern businesses.Optima Bank operates as a universal bank, providing retail, private, business and corporate banking products and services.
Optima bank S.A. is the 5th largest bank in Greece in terms of total assets. In 2023 its total assets were 3 855,00 mln EUR, providing the bank with the market share of 1.20%. In 2023 the bank's net income was 101,00 mln EUR.
Optima bank S.A. provides products and services in the areas of retail banking, private banking, business banking, online brokerage. Optima bank S.A. offers a range of products including current accounts, time deposit accounts, debit cards, housing loans, mutual funds.
Established in 1841, National Bank of Greece is one of the largest financial groups in Greece, with a strong presence in Southeast Europe and Eastern Mediterranean. National Bank of Greece is a universal bank providing a broad range of products and services in the areas of retail, private, business, corporate and investment banking.
National Bank of Greece is the 2nd largest bank in Greece in terms of total assets. In 2023 its total assets were 74 584,00 mln EUR, providing the bank with the market share of 23.22%. In 2023 the bank's net income was 1 020,00 mln EUR.
National Bank of Greece provides products and services in the areas of retail banking, private banking, business banking, corporate banking, institutional banking, online brokerage. National Bank of Greece offers a range of products including current accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, debit cards, prepaid cards, credit cards, consumer loans, housing loans, mutual funds.
Established in 1925, Attica Bank is a dynamic financial services company operating via a broad network of branches in the main cities of Greece. Attica Bank is a universal commercial bank, providing a broad range of retail and business banking products and services to individuals, SMEs and large companies.
Attica Bank S.A. is the 6th largest bank in Greece in terms of total assets. In 2023 its total assets were 3 729,00 mln EUR, providing the bank with the market share of 1.16%. In 2023 the bank's net income was 27,00 mln EUR.
Attica Bank S.A. provides products and services in the areas of retail banking, business banking. Attica Bank S.A. offers a range of products including current accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts (1.00 - 2.30 %), sight deposit accounts, debit cards, prepaid cards, credit cards, consumer loans, housing loans, green loans, trading accounts, mutual funds.
Alpha Bank was founded in 1879 by J.F. Costopoulos. Alpha Bank is the parent company and the main bank of Alpha Bank Group (Greece). Alpha Bank provides a broad range of banking and financial products and services, including retail and private banking, SMEs and business banking, corporate and investment banking, asset management, brokerage services, and real estate management.
Alpha Bank S.A. is the 3rd largest bank in Greece in terms of total assets. In 2023 its total assets were 66 779,00 mln EUR, providing the bank with the market share of 20.79%. In 2023 the bank's net income was 691,00 mln EUR.
Alpha Bank S.A. provides products and services in the areas of retail banking, private banking, business banking, online brokerage. Alpha Bank S.A. offers a range of products including current accounts, savings accounts, time deposit accounts, pension accounts, debit cards, prepaid cards, credit cards, mutual funds, consumer loans, housing loans.