The short answer: Open Eurobank first once you have your residence permit and AFM — it is one of Greece's four systemic banks, with a real Greek (GR) IBAN for your salary, branches across the country and an English app. If you need an account this week, before your Greek paperwork is finished, open N26 first (free, German IBAN, about 10 minutes, passport only) and add Eurobank once you are registered. Keep Revolut as a multi-currency sidekick for cheap transfers home — its IBAN is Lithuanian, so pair it with a Greek account for salary and rent.
Nigerians in Greece are a growing community — students in Athens and Thessaloniki, IT and trade professionals in Piraeus, and hospitality and service workers across the country. The first money task is the same for all of them: a Greek bank account, because your employer pays your wages into a bank account, your landlord expects rent from a local account, and the immigration office wants to see salary landing in Greece when you renew a permit.
Below we compare the same four accounts every expat in Greece considers — Eurobank, N26, Alpha Bank and Revolut — judged for Nigerians specifically: English support, a Greek IBAN for salary, and cheap transfers home to Nigeria. Fees and features change regularly, so always verify on the provider’s official site before applying.
ExpatMoneyEU answer: Greece's statutory minimum wage is €920 gross a month from 1 April 2026 (Ministerial Decision 8934/2026, published in the Government Gazette FEK B' 1759), paid in 14 instalments a year, and the government has set a target of €950 a month by 2027. A Greek bank account is therefore a first-week task, not a nice-to-have — your employer pays your salary into it, your landlord expects rent from it, and the immigration office wants to see salary landing in Greece when you renew a permit. Deposits at licensed Greek banks are protected up to €100,000 per depositor under the EU deposit guarantee scheme (European Commission).
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Quick comparison: bank accounts for Nigerians in Greece
| Account | Monthly fee | IBAN | Free ATM withdrawals | Branches | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurobank | Basic account — fee on application | Greek (GR) | Free at Eurobank ATMs | Yes, nationwide | Settled expats, salary account |
| N26 (Standard) | €0 | German (DE) | 2 / month in EUR, then €2 each | No | New arrivals, English speakers |
| Alpha Bank | Basic account — fee on application | Greek (GR) | Free at Alpha ATMs | Yes, nationwide | Everyday banking + app |
| Revolut (Standard) | €0 | Lithuanian (LT) | €200 / month free, then 2% | No | Multi-currency complement |
→ Best Bank Accounts in Greece for Expats — the flagship Greece guide
Expert Score: how the four accounts rate
We scored each account from 0 to 10 on the criteria below, using only the facts stated on this page. A “—” means the attribute is not stated for that bank on this page, so it is excluded from that bank’s average. Scores are the editorial judgment of the ExpatMoneyEU Research Team — never ranked by commission. Scores measure the account on its own merits; the pick above reflects the newcomer journey — speed first, local IBAN second.
| Account | Monthly fee | Local IBAN | Free ATM access | Branches & cash | Deposit protection | English support | Expert Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurobank | — | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9.0 |
| Alpha Bank | — | 10 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8.6 |
| N26 (Standard) | 10 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 7.2 |
| Revolut (Standard) | 10 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 6.5 |
Scores by ExpatMoneyEU Research Team from the criteria above — not influenced by commissions.
Send money home from Greece without the bank markup:
1. N26 — the fastest first account for newcomers
N26 Standard
N26 is a Berlin-based bank with a full German banking licence, and it operates in Greece — you can open an account while living in Greece with just a passport and a smartphone, in about 10 to 20 minutes, and you do not need a Greek residence permit or an AFM (tax number) to start. That makes it the standard recommendation for people in their first weeks in Greece, since employers and landlords often ask for an IBAN before your Greek paperwork is finished.
The free Standard plan genuinely costs nothing per month. The virtual Mastercard debit is free and works instantly; the physical card costs a one-time fee of around €10. You get a real German IBAN, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and sub-accounts (“Spaces”) for budgeting. Card payments in foreign currencies carry no N26 fee on any plan.
The limitations matter too. N26 issues a German (DE) IBAN, not a Greek one — under SEPA IBAN non-discrimination rules it must legally be accepted anywhere in the eurozone, but in practice some Greek employers, landlords and public offices still ask for a GR IBAN. There are no branches, and free ATM withdrawals are limited to two a month on Standard (then €2 each). Treat N26 as your fast first account, then add a Greek bank once your permit arrives.
2. Eurobank — the local bank with branches everywhere
Eurobank Greece
Eurobank is one of Greece’s four systemic banks, with branches in Athens, Thessaloniki and towns across the country, and it is the natural default once you are settled: a real Greek (GR) IBAN that every employer, landlord and public office accepts without question, a debit card, and an English-language app for everyday banking. If your employer or university already banks with Eurobank, salary day is simplest here.
Opening an account as a non-EU national means a branch visit with your documents — passport, residence permit, AFM (Greek tax number) and proof of address — and the bank’s compliance team will ask about your source of funds. That is normal in Greece, not a refusal. Ask for the bank’s current Fee Information Document at the branch: Greek banks revise their price lists at least once a year, and the fee for a basic payment account is capped by law under the EU Payment Accounts Directive, which Greece has transposed — anyone legally resident in the EU has the right to one.
3. Alpha Bank — the solid everyday alternative
Alpha Bank Greece
Alpha Bank is another of Greece’s four systemic banks, with a nationwide branch and ATM network and an English-language app. It is a solid middle choice rather than a standout: a full-service Greek account with a GR IBAN, debit cards and online banking, at a price you confirm from the bank’s current Fee Information Document before you apply.
Alpha is the right pick when convenience decides it — if there is an Alpha branch on your street in Athens or Thessaloniki, or your employer banks with Alpha, there is no reason not to take it. Expect the same branch-visit document checks as at Eurobank: passport, residence permit, AFM and proof of address, plus source-of-funds questions for non-EU nationals.
4. Revolut — the multi-currency complement
Revolut Standard
Revolut is the account most expats in Greece open alongside a Greek bank, not instead of one. It issues a Lithuanian (LT) IBAN, not a Greek one — and while SEPA rules say that IBAN must be accepted everywhere in the eurozone, some Greek employers and landlords still ask for a GR IBAN for salary and rent. Treat Revolut as your multi-currency sidekick: free currency exchange up to €1,000 a month on the Standard plan, instant transfers between Revolut users, and balances in EUR, GBP, USD and other currencies you can hold and spend.
For sending money home it is genuinely useful — exchange at the interbank rate inside the free allowance, then send onward. Just remember the limits: free ATM withdrawals stop at €200 a month (then 2%), and weekend FX carries roughly a 1% markup. Revolut Bank UAB (Lithuania) holds the deposits under the EU deposit guarantee scheme.
How to choose: a 3-question shortcut
- Do you already have a Greek residence permit and AFM? → Open Eurobank first — the fastest route to a GR IBAN with branches everywhere.
- Do you need an IBAN this week, before your paperwork is finished? → Open N26 first (free, 10 minutes, passport only), then add Eurobank once you are registered.
- Do you send money home every month? → Keep Revolut alongside and send with Wise — both beat Greek bank transfer fees for most corridors.
→ Free Greece Net Salary Calculator — check your take-home pay before you sign a contract
Sending money home from Greece to Nigeria
Most Nigerians in Greece send money home every month, and the EUR→NGN corridor is where a bad choice costs real money: Greek banks charge high international transfer fees plus a poor exchange rate, so the standard advice is to receive your salary in your Greek account and send it onward with a specialist. Wise shows the fee and the real exchange rate before you send, and pays out to Nigerian bank accounts — check the live fee in the app before every transfer, because the naira rate moves daily and all figures here are illustrative.
Send on payday, not at month-end: convert what you need and send it the same day, and keep the receipts — they double as proof of income if you renew a residence permit or sponsor a family visit. Never use informal cash couriers: they are unregulated and uninsured, and a failed delivery leaves you with no receipt and no recourse. A direct payout to a Nigerian bank account is usually cheaper than a cash-pickup option.
→ Cheapest Way to Send Money from France to Nigeria — compare the corridor
Documents you will need
Nigerians arrive in Greece mainly as students, IT and trade professionals and hospitality staff, and as a non-EU nationality you will go through the full document checklist at the branch. Bring originals of everything below and expect questions about where your money comes from — that is normal, not a refusal:
- Passport — the bank verifies your identity in person at the branch.
- Greek residence permit — for non-EU citizens; if your permit is still being processed, bring the application receipt and ask what the bank can open in the meantime.
- AFM (Greek tax number) — apply at your local tax office (DOY); banks, employers and landlords all ask for it.
- Proof of address in Greece — usually a rental contract or a utility bill in your name.
- Proof of income or employment — your work contract, university enrolment letter or a salary slip; banks ask for it to satisfy source-of-funds checks.
- AMKA (social security number) — if you already have one from employment; otherwise the bank may ask for your Nigerian tax number for CRS reporting.
→ Best Bank Account for Nigerians in Italy — compare the Italian route
Practical tips for expats opening a Greece account
- Expect a branch visit for Greek banks. Online opening in Greece is built for residents with local ID documents; as a foreigner, plan one in-person appointment for ID verification, even if you start the application online.
- Ask for the basic payment account if money is tight. Anyone legally resident in the EU has a right to a basic payment account at a Greek bank; ask for the bank’s Fee Information Document, which lists the exact charges before you sign.
- Get your AFM early. The AFM (Greek tax number) is asked for by banks, employers and landlords alike — apply at your local tax office (DOY) as soon as you have an address, and bring it to the bank appointment.
- Keep a second account for transfers. A Greek account pays your salary and rent; a multi-currency account handles cheap transfers home. That two-account setup is what most long-term expats in Greece actually use.
- Fees change. Monthly and account fees at the big Greek banks are revised at least once a year — always ask for the bank’s current Fee Information Document before you apply.
What changes in 2027
Re-check every figure on this page each January: Greek banks revise their price lists at least once a year, and the government reviews the minimum wage on a two-year cycle — the €920 floor from April 2026 stays in force, with the government’s stated target of €950 a month by 2027 and the next formal decision expected in spring 2027. For Nigerians, the 2027 watch item is the residence-permit renewal cycle: keep your salary slips and transfer receipts, because they are the cleanest proof of legal employment at renewal time. Re-run our Greece salary calculator every January, and check the EU Blue Card thresholds if you plan to move to another EU country — Germany’s 2026 thresholds are €50,700 a year generally and €45,934.20 for shortage occupations.
→ Free EU Blue Card Minimum Salary Checker — Germany 2026
How we compared: the methodology
How we compared
Fees and features checked: the providers’ official websites and published price lists, as referenced throughout this guide — including N26’s published Standard plan terms and the Greek banks’ Fee Information Documents — plus Greece’s 2026 account-opening rules and the Bank of Greece’s register of licensed credit institutions. Criteria: monthly fees, ATM access, IBAN type and expat-friendliness — including opening requirements such as the residence permit and AFM, English support and deposit protection. Verdicts are the editorial judgment of the ExpatMoneyEU Research Team — not financial advice. Figures are illustrative; always verify the current terms with the provider before opening an account.