Best Bank Accounts in Greece for Expats (2026)

Greece's banking system runs on one rule that surprises almost every newcomer: no AFM, no bank account. The nine-digit Greek tax number unlocks everything — the account, the apartment, the job. Get it first, and the rest follows in a known order. This guide walks you through the real documents, the four banks that matter, the €0 setup that works before you land, and the deposit safety that survived the crisis years.

Step zero: the AFM — everything depends on it

The AFM (Arithmos Forologikou Mitroou) is a nine-digit tax number issued by Greece's tax authority, AADE. No Greek bank will open an account without one — and neither will your landlord, your employer, or the utility company. It is genuinely the first domino.

1. Get the AFM first. EU citizens can apply at a local tax office (DOY) with a passport and proof of address. Tax office staff rarely speak English, so most expats go with an accountant, lawyer, or Greek-speaking friend — or arrange it via a lawyer before arriving.
2. Open the account second. With the AFM, passport, proof of address (rental contract or utility bill, often registered on the TAXIS system), and proof of income, most branches open an account the same day or within a few days.
3. Go digital third. Activate internet and mobile banking in the same visit — set up your Greek mobile number for transaction codes while you're there. Alpha Bank and NBG accept foreign mobile numbers; others may insist on a Greek SIM.
4. Wire your salary fourth. Give your employer the GR-IBAN. Some Greek payroll systems still glitch on foreign IBANs, so the local account pays for itself in avoided friction.

Miss the order and you'll burn weeks. There is one shortcut: Piraeus Bank and Eurobank accept power-of-attorney openings — a lawyer in Greece can open the account for you while you're still abroad. It's the closest thing to a remote opening the Greek system allows.

The €0 pre-arrival setup: N26, Revolut, Wise

N26 Standard (€0) explicitly lists Greece among its 24 supported markets, and Revolut Standard (€0) covers all EU/EEA countries including Greece — both open fully online from your phone before you travel. Your spending money works from day one: cards accepted across Greece's card-friendly cities and islands, with no Greek branch visit needed.

Wise (€0) is the third leg of the trio: the cheapest way to move salary or savings between Greece and your home country — see our money transfer guide for the fee comparison. None of the three replaces a Greek account (you need a GR-IBAN for smooth payroll and utilities), but together they remove every time pressure from the bureaucracy.

Greece's big four banks: how they compare

Greek banking is dominated by four systemic banks — Piraeus Bank, Eurobank, Alpha Bank, and the National Bank of Greece (NBG) — with newer challenger Optima Bank gaining ground. Their fee structures are similar and modest; Greek banks publish full tariffs in branch and online, so always compare the current price list — we only print numbers we can verify.

The NBG card figures come from NBG's own published account documentation. For Piraeus, Eurobank and Alpha, published tariffs differ by account package — we don't print numbers we can't verify, so check the bank's current price list (posted in every branch and on the bank's website) before you sign.

Branch reality: what expats actually experience

Greece's banks are branch-centric in a way Northern Europe isn't. A few realities from expat experience:

• Branch matters more than brand. Flexibility varies branch to branch — a Piraeus branch in an expat-heavy Athens suburb will be far easier than one in a small town. Ask around locally before committing.
• Some banks want a minimum deposit. Around €250 is reported for some accounts — modest, but have it ready.
• English is available but not guaranteed. All four banks' websites have English versions; smaller branches may not have English-speaking staff. NBG historically has better English support than its rivals.
• Anti-money-laundering checks are strict. Greek banks run thorough document verification — passport, income proof, tax declaration. Complete paperwork speeds everything; gaps stall it.
• Retirees take note: pension income is accepted as income proof — bring official pension confirmation or bank statements.

ATM rules: the 2025 law changed the game

Greece's 2025 ATM law is genuinely expat-friendly: cash withdrawals between different Greek banks within the DIAS interbank network are now free — no more cross-bank ATM fees for the four majors. Fees at independent third-party ATMs are capped at €1.50, and no bank may charge you for checking your balance at an ATM. In municipalities with only one ATM, withdrawals are free regardless of owner.

Two warnings: avoid tourist ATMs like Euronet (common at airports, ferry ports and resorts — they charge the maximum), and stick to machines carrying the Alpha, Eurobank, NBG or Piraeus logos for the legally protected rates. Daily transaction caps of roughly €600–€900 are normal on Greek ATMs.

Deposit safety: €100,000 under the HDIGF

After the crisis years and the extensive recapitalisation that followed, Greek banks operate under full Bank of Greece supervision within the EU framework. Deposits up to €100,000 per depositor per bank are protected by the Hellenic Deposit and Investment Guarantee Fund (HDIGF) — the Greek equivalent of the EU-wide guarantee. N26 balances are covered up to €100,000 under the German deposit scheme, and Revolut's EU accounts fall under Lithuania's €100,000 guarantee. Keep balances under the cap per institution and your money is protected.

GR-IBAN and the discrimination rule

Greek accounts come with a GR-IBAN. Under EU law, no company in the EU/EEA may refuse a valid IBAN because of its country code — "IBAN discrimination" is illegal. In practice, Greek payroll departments, utilities and subscription services still occasionally reject foreign IBANs in their forms, and some employers simply expect a Greek number. That's the practical reason the Greek account earns its place alongside the app banks. If you invest while in Greece, our European brokers guide covers the platforms expats actually use.

Every EU country compared: the full hub

Banking rules change at every border — the AFM is Greek, but Germany has its Schufa, France its RIB, Spain its NIE. Compare the country you're moving to (or from) with the rest of the series:

Greece banking FAQ

This guide is for information only, not financial advice. Fees and eligibility change — always confirm the current tariff on the provider's site before opening an account. Links marked for partner banks are affiliate placeholders until our partnerships are approved.