Supporting founders from over 50+ countries. We handle document preparation, pre-screening, and introduction to major Greek credit institutions and authorized digital payment providers for your IKE, AE, or branch entity.
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We audit your company charter (Katastatiko), GEMI registration certificates, Greek Tax Identification Number (AFM), and shareholder chain to ensure absolute alignment with Greek Bank AML directives.
Greek banks require verified proof of address, tax residence certificates, and source-of-wealth documentation for all Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) and legal representatives. We prepare these files with required apostilles and official Greek translations where necessary.
We match your business model, transaction footprint, and industry risk profile with the compliance policies of specific Greek commercial banks and electronic money institutions (EMIs).
We liaise with compliance officers to schedule mandatory director identification steps, whether conducted in-person at a Greek branch or via secure video authentication where permitted.
Depending on your corporate model, residency profile, and operational urgency, our team coordinates applications across established systemic banks in Greece or accredited electronic money institutions operating within the EU/EEA.
Greece's four systemic banks—Eurobank, Alpha Bank, National Bank of Greece (NBG), and Piraeus Bank—offer robust corporate services, domestic SEPA/DIAS clearing, merchant POS facilities, and state-backed business financing. However, they enforce stringent regulatory compliance. They generally require an active Greek AFM for the company and all legal representatives, official GEMI extract verification, and in most cases, an in-person branch appearance by the legal representative to execute bank signature cards.
For international cross-border trade, software startups, and remote teams, licensed European EMIs and Greece-headquartered digital institutions like Viva.com offer faster onboarding, dedicated European IBANs, multi-currency wallets, and digital debit cards. While digital providers have more flexible remote onboarding paths, non-resident acceptance remains strictly tied to risk category and company substance.
Requirements reflect current regulatory policies in Greece and may change based on applicant risk profile. Final approval is at the sole discretion of each institution.
| Provider | Non-resident accepted? | Remote onboarding? | Local address/company requirements | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurobank | Yes (Subject to enhanced AML audit) | Requires branch visit (Needs provider confirmation for selective remote exceptions) | Greek corporate AFM, GEMI registration, director AFM mandatory | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Alpha Bank | Yes (Subject to risk assessment) | No (Physical presence required for signature card) | Greek registered entity or registered Greek branch, domestic tax registration | 4 to 6 weeks |
| National Bank of Greece (NBG) | Yes (Strict verification of economic ties to Greece) | No (In-person branch verification standard) | Greek AFM, GEMI valid certificate, verified Greek registered office | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Piraeus Bank | Yes (Evaluated on case-by-case basis) | No (Branch visit typically required by legal representative) | Active GEMI number, company AFM, Greek tax credentials | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Viva.com (Viva Wallet) | Yes (EU/EEA & select third-country directors) | Yes (Fully digital verification) | Greek company AFM/GEMI or accepted EU entity registration | 3 to 7 business days |
| Revolut Business | Yes (Subject to supported country list) | Yes (Fully remote video KYC) | Greek incorporated entity or EU/EEA registered company | 3 to 10 business days |
International and resident founders incorporating an IKE (Private Capital Company) or AE in Greece.
Foreign corporations establishing a registered branch (Ypokatastima) within Greek jurisdiction.
Non-resident directors seeking dedicated intermediary assistance to navigate Greek banking bureaucracy, language barriers, and AML filings.
Operational companies with clear source-of-wealth documentation, verifiable counterparties, and legitimate commercial activity.
Individuals seeking personal consumer bank accounts or basic personal savings products.
Businesses operating in unlicenced, sanctioned, or restricted verticals (e.g., unregulated crypto, adult services, high-risk gambling).
Shell companies without legitimate physical or operational substance, clear UBO ownership, or commercial rationale.
Applicants seeking guaranteed bank accounts without submitting mandatory KYC, AML, and certified apostilled identity documentation.
A bank account application in Greece cannot proceed without an established legal structure, a Greek Tax Identification Number (AFM), and GEMI registration. If you have not yet incorporated your business, our legal partners can establish your Greek IKE or AE from scratch, appoint local representation via our corporate formation and governance services, and draft your corporate bylaws to satisfy compliance mandates. Explore our complete our corporate formation and governance services packages to launch your corporate presence in Greece seamlessly.
We analyze your business model, ownership structure, director residency, and corporate documents against the internal criteria of Greek systemic banks and European EMIs.
We review and compile your GEMI certificate, AFM issuance documentation, KMA UBO registry extract, and cross-border identity filings with necessary translations.
We submit your pre-cleared file directly to commercial onboarding managers at the target institution and track compliance queries on your behalf.
We coordinate the final verification step—guiding the director through remote digital verification or scheduling their branch appointment in Greece—until your business IBAN is activated.
Foreign entrepreneurs can legally own and direct a company registered in Greece. However, Greek anti-money laundering regulations require extra due diligence for non-resident directors and ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs). Systemic Greek banks enforce strict verification on corporate economic substance, requiring clarity on where transactions originate and why a Greek commercial account is necessary. Non-resident legal representatives must obtain an individual Greek AFM (tax number) and register on the Greek Tax Information System (Taxisnet) prior to account execution. While some digital alternatives allow remote identification, traditional Greek banks generally require the foreign director to physically sign documentation at a branch or grant a specific Greek notarial Power of Attorney (PoA). Our team manages this administrative pipeline, ensuring that non-resident files satisfy every regulatory check.
Supporting founders from over 50+ countries. We regularly assist entrepreneurs across diverse regions in structuring compliant Greek corporate banking files:
Founders from Germany, France, Cyprus, Italy, and the Netherlands expanding operations or setting up holding entities in Greece.
United States and Canadian technology, shipping, and real estate entrepreneurs establishing Greek operational subsidiaries.
Investors from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar managing commercial investments and Golden Visa holding structures in Greece.
Exporters and tech founders from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia requiring operational EUR IBANs for Greek logistics and commercial hubs.
Post-Brexit British and Swiss corporate groups maintaining European Union market access through Greek registered subsidiaries and branches.
Everything you need to know about opening a corporate business bank account in Greece.
