Photo from Aris Messinis/Getty Images
Normal banking hours are typically Monday-Thursday 8:00 – 14:30 and Friday 8:00 – 14:00. However, depending on the neighborhood, some branches close earlier and some open on Saturday and later on weekdays, i.e., banks at malls open until 21:00 on weekdays and 20:00 on Saturday.
Be aware that not all ATM/cash machines allow deposits or have an English option, so be prepared to complete transactions in person and in Greek.
Anyone interested in opening a bank account can do so with a Greek national ID or a passport from their homeland, which must be presented to bank employees on request for all transactions. As of March 2012, banks also have the legal right to request that customers show an original tax declaration (ekkatharistiko) as proof of income and payment of tax obligations.
*Last updated November 5, 2013
Banks looking to exit
Millennium Bank, Bank of Cyprus, Cyprus Popular Bank, Geniki Bank (Societe Generale), Credit Agricole are all looking for buyers and wish to leave the Greek market. — Kathimerini
Greek Banks
Aegean Baltic Bank (cooperation with HSH Nordbank)
Agrotiki Trapeza Ellados (Agricultural Bank of Greece or ATE) *Will be sort in part to Piraeus (WSJ)
Alpha Bank
Alpha Mutual Bank
Bank of Attica
Bank of Greece
Black Sea Trade and Development Bank
Bank of Chania
Bank of Thessaly
Chios Bank (merged with Piraeus)
Cooperative Bank of Dodecanese
Cooperative Bank of Drama
Cooperative Bank of Evia
Cooperative Bank of Evros
Cooperative Bank of Heraklion
Cooperative Bank of Ioannina
Cooperative Bank of Karditsa
Cooperative Bank of Kozani
Cooperative Bank of Lamia
Cooperative Bank of Lesvos-Limnos
Cooperative Bank of Pieria
Cooperative Bank of Serres
Cooperative Bank of Trikala (website down)
EFG Euro Bank (merged with Ergo Bank)
Emporiki Bank (Commercial Bank of Greece, backed by Credit Agricole)*
Epirus Bank
First Business Bank
Geniki Bank (General Bank of Greece; Piraeus purchasing majority owned by Societe Generale as of October 2012)
Hellenic Bank
Investment Bank of Greece
ING Greece
Marfin Egnatia
Millennium bank (formerly Nova Bank)
National Bank of Greece (Ethnikis Trapeza tis Ellados)
Pan Creta Bank
Panellinia Bank
Peleponnisou Bank
Piraeus Bank
Pro Bank
Proton Bank (Investments only)
T-Bank (formerly Aspis, acquired by TT Bank/Greek Postal in December 2011)
Taxydromiko Tamieytirio (Greek Postal Savings Bank)
WIN bank
I listed banks according whatever name they used to refer to themselves, whether in English or Greek.
*Credit Agricole transferred all its Emporiki banks in the Balkans to its namesake on June 14, giving it license to leave the Greek market and let Emporiki fail should Greece exit the eurozone. — WSJ
Foreign Banks in Greece
Please note that a foreign branch in Greece often has no connection with the country of origin because of local banking and privacy laws. For example, you cannot make a payment on your American Citibank card from Citibank Greece.
ABN AMRO (merged with Fortis Nederland on July 1, 2010)
American Express
Bank of America (no website)
35 Panepistimiou
105 64 Athens
Tel: (210) 325-1901/19
Fax: (210) 323-1376
Bank Saderat Iran
Panepistimiou 25
10564 Athens
Tel: (210) 324 9577
Barclays Bank
Cetelem Bank
Citibank
Cyprus Popular Bank
Deutsche Bank
Eurohypo
HSBC
Hypohypovereinsbank (Bayerische Vereinsbank)
Intesa Sanpaolo Bank of Albania (formerly American Bank of Albania)
JP Morgan Chase (Operates in cooperation with HSBC)
The Royal Bank of Scotland
Societe Generale (in cooperation with Geniki)
Tirana Bank (part of Piraeus Bank)
Defunct, merged or withdrew from Greece
AB Bank
Achaiki Cooperative Bank (placed in special liquidation as of March 19, 2012)
Arab Bank
Aspis (merged with T-Bank)
Banca Commerciale Italiana
Bank of Athens (consolidated with NBG)
Barclays
Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) Paribas – withdrawing as of January 23, 2012
Chase Manhattan (purchased by Piraeus)
Credit Commerciale France (merged wtih HSBC)
Credit Lyonnais (acquired by EFG Eurobank)
Credito Italiano (became UniCredit Group; operates under Hypohypovereinsbank)
Dresdner Bank (became Allianz, now Commerzbank)
ETEBA
FCE (Ford Credit Europe)
GMAC (General Motors)
Grindlays Bank (now Standard Chartered; sold to Aspis)
Ionian Bank (consolidated with Alpha)
Korinthia Bank (merged with Peloponnisou)
Laiki Bank (see Marfin)
Lamias (placed in special liquidation as of March 19, 2012)
Lesvou-Limnou (placed in special liquidation as of March 19, 2012)
Midland Bank (purchased by HSBC)
NatWest (operates under Royal Bank of Scotland)
Omega Bank (see Proton)
Popular Bank (consolidated with Alpha)
Proton Bank (nationalized by the Bank of Greece in October 2011)
Scotia Bank
T Bank (liquidated by the Bank of Greece in December 2011; assets transferred to TT Bank)
I researched this post as best I could with all the mergers/acquisitions. Valid corrections or additions are welcome.
* Hat tip to: MBE, DJ and CO for their contributions
Greek Banks in the News
“Lenders slapped with fines for improper practices”
“Greek bank bouncer”
“Banks abroad cautious of opening foreign accounts for Greeks” — Business Insider
Kat Reply:
September 13th, 2007 at 21:54
Daniel – Thanks for letting us know. I amended the article accordingly.