Opening a Bank Account in Greece: A Guide for Foreigners

A bank account is one of the first practical steps after arriving in Greece. Your salary, taxes, rent and bills all run through it, and legal, paid work is hard to complete without one. The good news is that Greek’s banking is modern and used to foreign customers, and, as a SEPA member, it is well connected to the rest of Europe for euro transfers.

The short version: foreigners can open an account in Greece, usually with a passport, a residence permit for most banks, and a local address. Everyday accounts are in euros, they use IBAN, and deposits are protected. If you are a driver, open your account early — you can browse driver vacancies in Greece or register a driver profile while you get set up.

Can foreigners open a bank account in Greece?

Yes — Greek banks are open to foreign customers. In general, you need to be at least 18, present a valid passport or national ID, and, for most banks, show a residence permit and a local address. Greece is in the eurozone and a SEPA member; a Greek tax number (AFM) is usually needed to open an account. Some banks are more flexible than others, and the exact list varies, so it is worth asking two or three before you choose.

Bring more documentation than you think you need; it is easier to hand over a spare document than to make a second trip.

The euro and multi-currency accounts

Everyday accounts in Greece are held in euro (EUR), so if you are paid and pay your bills locally, a single euro account covers most needs. Many banks also offer accounts or sub-accounts in other major currencies for people who send money abroad or are paid from outside the country.

Keeping the bulk of your money in the currency you actually spend avoids paying conversion costs twice.

Greece and SEPA

Greece is in SEPA, the Single Euro Payments Area, which treats a euro transfer between Greece and any other SEPA country like a domestic payment — same speed, same low cost. Greece is in the eurozone, and a SEPA member; a Greek tax number (AFM) is usually needed to open an account. In practice, that means your salary, rent and cross-border euro payments move quickly and cheaply using just an IBAN.

When you give someone your details for a euro payment, your IBAN (and sometimes the bank’s BIC) is all they need.

Resident vs non-resident accounts

Most banks in Greece distinguish between resident and non-resident accounts. A resident account — the normal choice once you live and work here — needs a residence permit and a local address, and gives you the full range of services. A non-resident account, where offered, is more limited and is aimed at people with ties to Greece who do not yet live there.

If you are relocating for work, you will almost always want a resident account, so time it with your residence paperwork.

Documents you’ll need

To open a resident account in Greece, expect to provide:

• A valid passport or national ID.
• Your residence permit or proof of legal stay in Greece.
• Proof of a local address (a rental contract or a utility bill).
• A tax number (AFM).
• Sometimes an employment contract or proof of income, and a small opening deposit.

Proof of address is the document that trips people up most, so sort out a tenancy or utility bill early.

IBAN and international transfers

Greece accounts use IBAN, the standard European account number, so sending and receiving money is simple: you give your IBAN, and euro transfers within SEPA arrive quickly and cheaply. For payments outside the SEPA area you may also need the bank’s SWIFT/BIC code, and those transfers can carry higher fees.

Double-check the IBAN before sending a large payment; a single wrong character can bounce or misdirect it.

Cards, ATMs and fees

Once your account is open, a debit card usually follows within a couple of weeks, sometimes on the spot. Watch for the everyday costs: a monthly account fee, ATM withdrawal fees (especially at other banks’ machines or abroad), and currency-conversion charges. Many banks in Greece now offer app-based accounts with lower fees and instant cards, which can be worth comparing.

Using your own bank’s ATMs and paying in the local currency at card terminals keeps fees down.

Basic payment accounts

Under EU rules, anyone legally resident in Greece has the right to a basic payment account with essential services — a card, transfers and direct debits — even on a modest income or a limited residence status. If a bank turns you away, ask specifically about the basic payment account you are entitled to.

A basic account is enough to receive a salary and pay bills, which is all you need to get started.

Banking, employment and residence

Banking, employment and residence are closely linked in Greece. Employers pay wages into a local account, tax and social contributions are settled through the system, and having an account is part of putting your working life on a legal footing. Opening one early smooths your first pay run and the wider process of settling in.

If you are moving to Greece to drive, line up your account alongside your residence and work paperwork. You can browse driver vacancies in Greece and register a driver profile, and employers can post roles and manage recruitment and compliance through FastDriver.

Deposit protection

Money in a licensed Greek bank is protected. Deposits are covered up to EUR 100,000 per depositor through the Hellenic Deposit and Investment Guarantee Fund (TEKE), so if a bank were to fail, eligible deposits up to the limit are repaid. This protection is one reason to bank with a supervised, licensed institution rather than an informal arrangement.

The guarantee applies per depositor per bank, so very large balances may be safer split across institutions.

Common issues — and the biggest mistake

A few issues catch newcomers in Greece. An account can be temporarily restricted if compliance checks are outstanding or documents are out of date, and a bank may limit or close an account if your residence permit lapses. But the single biggest mistake is waiting too long to open an account — it delays your first salary payment and holds up the rest of your settling-in.

Keep your residence permit and address details current with the bank so nothing freezes unexpectedly.

For professional drivers in Greece

For professional drivers, a Greek account is simply the tool that gets you paid and lets you live normally — salary in, rent and bills out, wherever your routes take you. The practical advice is the same everywhere: open it early, keep your documents current, and make sure your employer has the right IBAN before your first pay run.

If you are looking for work, you can browse current driver vacancies in Greece and register a driver profile. Employers hiring in Greece can post roles and manage compliance through FastDriver.

Banking in the Greek region

Banks operate across Greece, and you can open an account wherever you live. Here is a look at the main regions and their banking.

Attica

The capital area, where every major bank keeps its main branches and where opening an account is most straightforward. Driver jobs in Attica.

Central Macedonia

The main banks operate branches across Central Macedonia for accounts, cards and payments. Driver jobs in Central Macedonia.

Western Greece

Local branches of the main banks serve Western Greece, covering everyday accounts, cards and transfers. Driver jobs in Western Greece.

Thessaly

Banking in Thessaly is handled through branches of the national banks, with ATMs in the main towns. Driver jobs in Thessaly.

Eastern Macedonia and Thrace

Residents of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace use local branches and ATMs of the major banks for their day-to-day banking. Driver jobs in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

Crete

The main banks operate branches across Crete for accounts, cards and payments. Driver jobs in Crete.

Epirus

Local branches of the main banks serve Epirus, covering everyday accounts, cards and transfers. Driver jobs in Epirus.

Central Greece

Banking in Central Greece is handled through branches of the national banks, with ATMs in the main towns. Driver jobs in Central Greece.

Peloponnese

Residents of Peloponnese use local branches and ATMs of the major banks for their day-to-day banking. Driver jobs in Peloponnese.

South Aegean

The main banks operate branches across South Aegean for accounts, cards and payments. Driver jobs in South Aegean.

Western Macedonia

Local branches of the main banks serve Western Macedonia, covering everyday accounts, cards and transfers. Driver jobs in Western Macedonia.

North Aegean

Banking in North Aegean is handled through branches of the national banks, with ATMs in the main towns. Driver jobs in North Aegean.

Ionian Islands

Residents of Ionian Islands use local branches and ATMs of the major banks for their day-to-day banking. Driver jobs in Ionian Islands.

Digital and mobile banking in Greece

Banking in Greece has moved onto the phone, just as it has across the rest of Europe. A modern app lets you send money, set up recurring payments and lock a lost card in seconds, and online banking gives you statements and full payment history whenever you need them. Contactless cards and mobile wallets are accepted almost everywhere.

If you want an account before you have even chosen a local bank, EU-licensed money apps let residents right across the bloc hold euros and make instant transfers. Plenty of foreigners in Greece keep one of these alongside a traditional Greek bank account, using the app for quick payments and the bank for salary, rent and anything that needs a full local IBAN.

Can you open a bank account in Greece before you arrive?

You do not always have to wait until you land in Greece to start the process. Some banks let non-residents begin an application online, confirm their identity by video call and finish the paperwork later, which can save a lot of time during your first weeks in the country.

Traditional banks in Greece usually still want to meet you in person for a full current account, so booking an appointment before you travel is sensible. Bring the documents the bank lists, and remember that under EU rules you have the right to a basic payment account even without a long local address history.

Choosing the right bank in Greece

With several banks competing in Greece, it pays to compare before you commit. Look at the monthly account fee, whether the staff and the app support English, how large the branch and ATM network is, and whether the bank is comfortable accepting foreign documents.

Every bank in Greece is licensed and supervised by the Bank of Greece, and your money is protected up to EUR 100,000 per depositor if a bank ever fails, so that you can focus the comparison on service and cost rather than safety. Reading the full fee list, including charges for ATM withdrawals abroad and card replacement, keeps you from being caught out later.

Sending money home from Greece

Many foreign workers in Greece send part of their pay to family abroad, so it helps to know the cheapest way to move money out. Your options are a normal bank transfer, a dedicated money-transfer service or an app, and the best choice depends on where the money is going and how quickly it needs to arrive.

Because Greece uses the euro and is in SEPA, transfers to other SEPA countries are fast and cheap, often arriving the same day for little or no fee. For payments outside the euro area, you will pay a conversion cost, so compare your bank’s rate against a specialist app before sending a large sum.

Related guides

• EU bank account — overview
• Income tax in Greece
• Greece residence permit
• Greece work permit

Official sources

• The Bank of Greece — banking supervision and payment systems.
• Hellenic Deposit and Investment Guarantee Fund (TEKE) — deposit protection.

Information only — not financial or legal advice. Requirements, fees and coverage limits differ by bank in Greece and can change. Always confirm directly with your bank what documents you need before you apply.