FAQs

To open an account with our bank, visit one of our branches that best suits you.

You can start your relationship with our bank in just 10 minutes with just one signature, at any of our branches that suits you. You will need to provide certain supporting documents required for your identification, in line with the regulations of the Bank of Greece. Click here to see what these documents are.

You can add as many joint holders as you like to your account, in any of our branches that suits you. They will have to visit the branch as well and in line with the regulations of the Bank of Greece, they will need to provide certain supporting documents, which are required for their identification. Click here to see what these documents are.

For your convenience, we ought to keep your most recent information in our records. If they are older than three years, you will need to visit one of our branches to update them with a simple and quick procedure. Click here to view details of the supporting documents you are required to provide.

This procedure is mandatory for all banks and financial institutions under their legal and regulatory obligations, arising from the regulatory framework established by Law 4557/2018 and Decision No. 281/5/17.03.2009 of the Banking and Credit Committee of the Bank of Greece.

Yes. Banks are not allowed to perform any transactions unless they have previously certified and verified the identity of the customer.

This obligation arises from the regulatory framework established by Law 4557/2018 and the relevant Decision No. 281/5/17.03.2009 of the Banking and Credit Committee of the Bank of Greece, in accordance with the applicable regulations in the European Union and internationally.

Our bank, like all banks, is obliged to implement the provisions of the applicable legislation. That's why we request your information both at the beginning and during our banking relationship, e.g. when you want to start your banking relationship with us or make a transaction.

You can open an account adding your children as joint holders by submitting the necessary supporting documents, as well as a solemn declaration certified by e-Gov or by a KEP, at the Optima branch that best suits you. Click here to see what these documents are.

IBAN is your International Bank Account Number. It has been created in accordance with the specifications of the European Committee for Banking Standards (ECBS).

Every bank account number can be converted into an IBAN by the bank where you have opened your account.

Optima bank participates in the Deposit Cover Scheme of the Hellenic Deposit & Investment Guarantee Fund (TEKE) (www.teke.gr). Your deposits are covered by TEKE for up to €100,000 per Individual and Banking Institution. Click here to find out more.

The maximum coverage limit for the total deposits of each depositor, with a credit institution covered by TEKE, is set at €100,000. If you have more deposits at the same credit institution, this limit applies to the total deposits held at the same credit institution, irrespective of number of deposits, their currency and location. In case of joint accounts, the limit of €100.000 applies to each depositor.

For the purpose of calculating the repayment, the credit balances with the bank shall be offset against all claims of the credit institution against the eligible depositor, if and to the extent that they have become due and payable on or before the date of default. Further information can be found at www.teke.gr.

If you already have an account with our bank, it is only a matter of a few minutes to open a time deposit that suits you. Feel free to contact or visit the branch that suits you best for more information. Click here to find out more about our time deposits.

You can be informed about the bank's commissions from the current price list posted on our website here.

When you start your cooperation with our bank at any Optima bank branch by opening an account, a free Optima bank Debit Mastercard is issued on the spot.

Simply visit an Optima bank branch and fill out an application. If you already have a deposit account with the bank, no additional documents are required.

When you have your card renewed and/or PIN reissued, you are charged according to the Bank's Basic Price List.

The daily cash withdrawal limit at our bank's ATMs or ATMs abroad is €1,000. If you wish, the daily withdrawal limit can be changed. The maximum withdrawal amount at the DIAS ATM network is €600 per day.

The daily purchase limit for debit cards is €2,000. If you wish, it can be changed.

Simply visit an Optima bank branch and fill out an application. We remain at your disposal for further information and assistance.

In order to apply for a credit card, you are required to provide the following documents:

• Identification card
• Utility bill
• Income tax assessment notes of the past two years
• Payslip

You can find out about the credit card charges in the current Basic Price List which is posted on our website.

No. There is only a €3.00 fee in case of PIN reissue.

The cash withdrawal limit is equal to 50% of your credit limit with a maximum amount of €1,500.

You can make a payment on your credit card as follows:

• at any Optima bank branch that suits you
• via Optima bank’s e-banking
• at the post office

After activating your card, you can use it both in Greece and abroad without having to take any additional action.

You can find out about your card balance/transactions:

• through the monthly statement you receive by post
• via the Optima bank’s e-banking, if you are a user, under Products > Products in detail
• by calling +30 210 8173000.

To report loss/theft/non-receipt of a card, please call +30 210 8173000.

You can make a “PIN change” transaction in any ATM. In case yοu have forgotten your PIN and you need to have a PIN reissued, call +30 210 8173000. After receiving the new PIN, you will need to make an ATM transaction for the new PIN to be activated for purchases as well.

Your card is automatically renewed before it expires and sent to you at the address you have provided. To activate the new card you must call +30 210 8173000.

Contactless transactions are performed by cardholders themselves by simply approaching their card to the merchant's terminal as instructed.

It is an innovative method for contactless payments with your andoid device, which can be used for purchases both in physical stores and online.

You can add all your Optima bank cards, either debit or credit. 

Add your card to Google Pay™ via your Optima mobile app or the Google Pay app, following a few simple steps.

You can make your transactions through Google Pay where you see the following signs:
 

The service is free of charge and you can use it without paying any fees whatsoever. 

Follow the instructions of Find my device on your device to block it immediately. Alternatively, call us at 2108173000.

Call us at 2108173000 to report a loss or theft of your card and we will replace it immediately. Once you have received and activated your new card, Google Pay™ will be updated automatically.

The new payment method is completely secure. When you add your card to Google Pay™, the actual card number is not stored on your device, instead an encrypted/virtual number is automatically generated. Your actual card information is not stored anywhere and remains encrypted and completely protected from third parties.

Remember that Google Pay™ protects your payment information on multiple levels, using one of the most advanced security infrastructures.

You can very easily remove your card from Google Pay™ on your device. Similarly, you can sign up again to the service at any time, following the sign up steps.

Google Pay™ is available for Android devices with Android 5 "Lollipop"+ operating system. For contactless payments at POS terminals, your device must support the NFC function (Near Field Communication), which must be enabled. Your smartwatch must support Wear OS 2 or later version and NFC chip.
Check your device's compatibility with the service, here.

It is an innovative and secure method for contactless payments with your Apple devices, which can be used for purchases both in physical stores and online.

You can add all your Optima bank cards, either debit or credit.

Add your card to Apple Pay via the Optima mobile app or the Apple Wallet app in a few simple steps.

You can make your transactions where you see the following signs:

The service is free of charge and you can use it without paying any fees whatsoever.

Follow the instruction of Find MY service (see here). Alternatively, you can call us at 2108173000.

Call us at 2108173000 to report a loss or theft of your card and we will replace it immediately. Once you have received and activated your new card, Apple Pay will be updated automatically.

The new payment method is completely secure. When you add your card to Apple Pay, the actual card number is not stored on your device, instead an encrypted number (token) is automatically generated. Your actual card information is not stored anywhere and remains encrypted and completely protected from third parties.

You can very easily remove your card from Apple Pay on your device (click here for more information).

Similarly, you can sign up again to the service at any time, following the sign up steps.

Apple Pay is supported on all your Apple devices, iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac. Click here to check the compatibility of your device.

If you change your device, you will have to set up your card again in Apple Pay.

The National Communication Register (N.C.R.), is the information system for the management of the central database for the unique registration of the contact details of all individuals, which you will find at the Single Digital Portal of the Public Administration Governance (gov.gr)

 More information here.

No, the service is provided free of charge.

You can download the Optima mobile app from the App Store and the Google Play store.

Through digital onboarding, you can instantly open a personal deposit account “Optima account for individuals” for your daily transactions.

Through digital onboarding you can acquire the Optima bank Debit Mastercard which you will receive by mail at the address you choose during your onboarding. 

You can receive your card’s PIN either through Optima e-banking or the Optima mobile app, selecting ''Options'' -> ''Send PIN'' on your card's management screen.

The service is available 24/7, every day of the year!

To open a payroll account, you will have to visit one of our branches with all the required documentation to open an account.

Yes, you can cancel the process and continue from the point where you left off within 48 hours. After 48 hours, you will have to begin the process from the start.

Yes, you can download the Optima mobile app from the App Store or Play Store and register through digital onboarding.

To acquire an additional Optima bank account, you must visit one of our branches.

The only document you will need is your identity card which you will be asked to show via video call during your identity verification process.

The transfer of your contact information to our bank during the digital onboarding process takes place after you log in to the Single Digital Portal of the Public Administration Governance (gov.gr) using your personal Taxisnet codes.

After indicating your consent, your contact information which is saved at gov.gr, is transferred to the bank. For this reason, it is necessary for you to have updated your contact information (address and mobile phone number) at the National Communication Register (N.C.R.) before beginning the process. More information is available here.

• you must be an individual
• you must be 18 and over
• you must have a valid identity card in Greek and Latin characters
• you must be a Greek national with exclusive tax residence in Greece.

If you are not required to file a tax return you cannot open an account through digital onboarding. In this case, you will have to visit one of our branches.

If you have recently updated your contact information, then it's not required. In the event your contact information on our database is not updated you will have to go through the identify verification process via video call with a representative of our bank.

For any problem, question or clarification you can contact our bank’s customer service department, at +30 210 8173000 or by email at [email protected].

In this instance you will have to start the process from the beginning.

To open an account online from your mobile phone, a video call is necessary in accordance with the corresponding regulatory guidelines for remote electronic identity verification.

No, only one person is allowed on the video call otherwise identity verification cannot take place.

All types of identity cards that include contact information in Greek and Latin characters are acceptable.

The steps are simple:

Step 1: Download the Optima mobile app, if you don't already have it, or upgrade to the latest version on your mobile.

If you are a new user, once you install it:

• Log in with your Optima e-banking user ID and password
• Enter and confirm a 4-digit PIN for easier access
• Enter the code sent to your mobile
• Activate the biometrics, if supported by your device.

Step 2: Enable push notifications directly from the app tapping on the on-screen prompt that will be displayed.

Manage push notifications via the Optima mobile app by selecting Profile> Settings> Push notifications.

First, you need to make sure that you have downloaded the latest version of the Optima mobile app and that you have enabled push notifications.

If you still do not receive push notifications, check that you have enabled them from your device settings, and that the mobile data on your device is on, or that you are connected to a wifi network.

Visit any Optima bank branch that suits you, in order to update your data.

When making a transaction, if you do not receive a push notification or if it expires, you can request a new one or a one-time password (OTP) via Viber or SMS.

If you have forgotten your password, please call us at 210-8173000. After your information is verified, you will be given a new password, which you can then change to another one you prefer for your next purchases.

The transactions for which your approval is required are money transfers via Optima e-banking or mobile app and online purchases, according to the security rules that have been set.

Sometimes you may not need to approve your transaction. This may happen because:

• based on your purchase details (e.g. the purchase amount) and the bank's criteria, there is no requirement for strong identification to complete your purchase
• the merchant may not support strong transaction identification requirements.

If you are not customer of our bank, you can visit any of our branches that suits you and after opening an account and obtaining a debit card, your access to Optima e-banking will be activated.

If you are new customer, the prerequisites for your registration to Optima e-banking service are the start of a relationship with the bank and the provision of your email address and mobile number.

A business can be registered to Optima e-banking by its legal representative in any of our branches that suits you.

Optima bank's e-banking enables you to easily and quickly:

• view detailed information about your products (deposits, loans, investments)
• transfer money within or outside the bank
• pay your cards and bills
• apply for a cheque book

and perform several other important tasks that facilitate your daily transactions.

If you perform your transactions via Optima e-banking, you take advantage of the preferential pricing we offer. Learn about Electronic transactions price list.

In order to register and use the advanced e-banking services, you should have one of the following browsers installed on your device:

• Google Chrome, version 84 or higher
• Internet explorer, version 11 or higher
• Microsoft Edge, version 44 or higher
• Firefox, version 78 or higher.

In order to login to Optima e-banking, you will need to enter the credentials (user ID and password) that will be provided by the bank.

To retrieve your credentials click on the link "Forgot your credentials?”  and follow the steps described on the "Help" screen.

Specifically:

• To retrieve your user ID, you will receive an email with your user ID, which will be sent to the e-mail address you have provided to the bank.
• To retrieve your password, you will be prompted to enter your user ID and answer the security questions. Then follow the steps described on the screen. If you are unable to complete the process of recovering your credentials, please contact the bank.

Call our customer service at +30 210 8173000, Monday to Sunday 08:00 – 22:00, in order to receive online a new temporary password to the mobile number you have provided to the bank or be reminded of your user ID, following your identity verification.

You can call our customer service at +30 210 8173000, Monday to Sunday 08:00 – 22:00, in order to reset your credentials.

According to the current regulatory framework (Law 4557/2018), the bank is obliged to keep complete, accurate and recent customer identification data, as well as the appropriate documents confirming these data.

For maximum security of your transactions, our systems use the latest technologies. Before using e-banking, it is important to be informed about the “Useful Security Information “ you will find on our website.

Before logging in, for your protection against malicious act, make sure that:

• you navigate to Optima bank's website and do not follow links that prompt you to reply to emails requesting account or user code information
• use protection programs (antivirus, firewalls)
• your credentials have not been leaked (user ID and password). Remember that they are strictly personal and must not be disclosed to anyone.

Make sure that the address displayed on your browser is the Optima bank address. You see a relevant lock icon, indicating that an official digital certificate has been issued.

You can, as long as you make sure you navigate to the Optima bank website and don't save your credentials (user ID and password). For maximum security, after using the e-banking service, we recommend deleting the temporary Internet files on the computer.

The bank will never request access to your accounts or credentials in any way (by phone or email). They are personal and must not be disclosed to anyone. Please do not reply to the email and delete or terminate the communication immediately.

E-mails that appear to come from the bank are often misspelled or poorly written and ask you to fill in details of your bank accounts and cards or e-banking access credentials. These are attempts to intercept your passwords and access your e-banking account. Do not follow links contained in emails or websites of third parties that lead you to websites that simulate the Optima bank's website and ask you to fill in details of your accounts, cards or your user credentials.

You can forward it to [email protected] and then delete it from your inbox without any further action.

Log in to your e-banking account and check your transaction history. If you identify any suspicious transactions, contact us immediately. In any case, you can block the access by entering the password incorrectly multiple consecutive times in order to block your account.

Contact your telecommunications provider immediately in order to have your device disabled.

Change your email password immediately (especially if you have allowed access to your email through your mobile phone). Log in to your e-banking account and change your credentials (user ID and password).

Alternatively, you may temporarily block your credentials by entering a wrong password multiple consecutive times. You can easily unblock them online later by selecting "Forgot your credentials?".

If there is a sufficient balance in your account, your daily transfer orders cannot cumulatively exceed the amounts of:

• €50.000 or the equivalent in available foreign currency for individuals
• €200.000 or the equivalent in available foreign currency for business (unless a different limit has been agreed with the bank)

Transfers to other banks are executed through:

1. SEPA (Single European Payment Area) or
2. SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication)

More specifically, transfers are automatically directed by the system via:

1. SEPA, when:

• transfers are made within the European Economic Area (EEA),
• currency is euro,
• account of the beneficiary is in IBAN format
• the name of the beneficiary is available, and
• the indication of expenses is SHA (the ordering customer only pays the charge of his/her bank and the beneficiary pays the charge of his/hers).

2. SWIFT, when transferring:

• foreign currency in Greece or abroad
• euro outside EEA countries
• euro within EEA countries, if you wish to pay all transfer charges (OUR)

Note: For your Swift Transfers, it is suggested to indicate/input the Beneficiary's address so that your transfer is not delayed by the correspondent banks due to incomplete data.

• Transfers in euros up to €100,000.00 to banks participating in instant priority payments in Greece and the EEA, are executed with immediate credit and availability of funds in the beneficiary's account within 10 seconds, regardless of day and time.
• Transfers in euros that do not meet the above conditions, are executed on the same day if the order is placed by 16:00 for transfers within Greece, or by 13:00 for transfers abroad but within the EEA.
• Transfer orders in euros to a bank outside the EEA, or in US dollars regardless of destination, are executed on the same day if the order is placed by 16:00.
• Transfer orders in the other currencies, regardless of destination, are executed with a 2-day value date when the order is placed by 16:00.

Should your order be placed outside the above hours or business days, it will be considered to have been received on the next business day and be processed accordingly.

You can request a transfer order to be executed on a future date, whereby your account will be debited on the date you will instruct and your order will be executed according to the above rules.

You can also give instruction for a recurring transfer (standing order), which will be executed regularly. Your account will be debited on the date you have instructed, and your order will be executed according to the above rules.

In case the date you have stated is not a business day, your order will be performed according to the above rules.  

A sufficient balance in your account at the date of the order execution is a prerequisite for the completion of your orders.

Currency conversion, if required, is executed based on the current “Foreign currency exchange rates” on the day and time of submission of your order. You can be informed about “Foreign currency exchange rates” at the e-banking’s home page or at our branches.

For transfer requests that are to be executed on a future date and/or as a standing order, the listed exchange rates are indicative, and the final/actual ones will occur at the date of execution.

Any transaction that includes foreign currency conversion is also subject to the commission set out in the current price list (section “Currency Conversion Transactions”).

You can perform transfers in ΕUR, USD, GBP, CHF, AUD, CAD, DKK, HKD, JPY, NOK, PLN, RON, SEK.

Within e-banking, FX cross currency services (non eurο present) are not offered. To perform such a transaction, contact one of our branches.

You can choose the transfer charges to be:

• SHA: you will only pay the charge of your bank, while the beneficiary will pay the charge of his/hers
• BEN: the beneficiary will pay all the charges (offered for non-EEA countries and currencies)
• OUR: you will pay all the charges. If these charges are known to the bank in advance, you will be notified before the transfer takes place. Otherwise, you will have to pay the charges that will be claimed afterwards by the beneficiary's bank and intermediate banks.

Find out in detail about the relevant costs in the bank’s price list. 

All our branches have ATMs for your convenience. Find out here about our branch network.

At our ATMs you can make the following transactions:

• withdraw cash
• view your account statement
• print a mini statement (recent transactions)
• change debit / credit card PIN

Cash can be withdrawn from:

• DIAS network free of charge, plus any fee charged by the other bank.
• at any ATM around the world with the Mastercard logo at 1% fee, with €3.00 minimum and €5.00 maximum.

If your card has been withheld, please contact our 24/7 Customer Service immediately at +30 210 6244525 in order to report loss of your card and have a new one reissued.

• Before making your ATM transaction, check if there is anything suspicious in the area around you. If you notice anything, do not continue or cancel your transaction and move away
• When making your transaction, enter the PIN in a manner ensuring that it cannot be seen by others
• Memorize your PIN, so that you are able to enter it right away without looking for it on your phone or on paper notes
• As soon as you complete your transaction, take your money, your card and your receipt
• While making your transaction, avoid keeping your personal belongings open and exposed, e.g. in your wallet or bag
• Do not count your money in front of the ATM
• Protect your details and do not leave the receipt on the ATM.

For your security, we recommend changing your PIN every 6 months.

If you have a problem with an ATM transaction, be wary in case a stranger offers to help you. Under no circumstances should you disclose your card's PIN. Your PIN is strictly personal and must not be shared with anyone.

To open an investment account with our bank, you must first open a deposit account unless you already have one. For more information, visit one of our branches that best suits you.

In addition to the deposit account, by signing the Investment Services Agreement and filling out the investment questionnaire you gain access to investment products and services.

Yes, you can create an investment account with joint holders. Joint account holders need to sign the Investment Services Agreement, fill out the investment questionnaire and provide  supporting documents, required for their identification. The composition of the investment account must be the same as of the linked bank account.

For your convenience, we ought to keep your most recent information in our records. If they are outdated, you will need to visit one of our branches to update them with a simple and quick procedure. Click here to view details of the supporting documents you are required to provide.

You can open an investment account in the name of your children by providing the required supporting documents to the branch that best suits you. Click here to see what these documents are.

Optima bank participates in the Investment Services Guarantee Fund (www.syneggiitiko.gr). For more information, click here.

The investment account grants access to shares traded on the Athens, Cyprus, or international Stock Exchanges, bonds (Over-the-counter & exchange listed), Mutual Funds (managed by Optima asset management  & the largest international firms), derivatives and structured products. Click here to find out more about investment products.

If you already have an investment account with our bank, it is only a matter of minutes to buy shares in any Mutual Fund you wish. For more information, you can contact or visit the branch that suits you best. Click here to find out more about Mutual Funds.

You can be informed about the bank's commissions from the current price list posted on our website here.

The obligation to collect electronic receipts in order to establish the income tax deduction applies to employees, pensioners and professional farmers.

According to the circular of the Ministry of Finance POL 1005/2017 the income tax deduction established by using electronic means of payment:

• card payments
• payments via e-banking.

The following goods or services expenses:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages
• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco
• Clothing and footwear
• Housing (excluding rents)
• Durable goods, household goods and services
• Transport (excluding cost of road use taxes and purchase of vehicles other than bicycles)
• Telecommunications
• Recreation, cultural activities (excluding the purchase of yachts, airplanes and aircraft)
• Education/training
• Hotels, bars, restaurants
• Other goods and services.

The following expenses are excluded:

• Rents
• Road use taxes
• Purchase of vehicle (car, motorcycle)
• Purchase of yacht, airplane and aircraft
• Purchase of residence, land and other real estate
• Tax payments and payments to the Central Government (Ministries, Insurance Funds) in general
• Loan repayments
• Purchase of investment products (shares, bonds, etc.).

The maximum amount of expenses with electronic means of payment is set at 30% taxpayer's income. More specifically, 10% up to 10,000 euros, 15% from 15,000 to 30,000 euros and 20% for higher income.

Every month the tax authority receives from the bank aggregated transaction data relating to electronic payments for purchases of goods and services per Tax Identification Number for the purpose of the income tax deduction. Soon the bank will provide you with a tool that will allow you to calculate online your income tax deduction, as well as the amount remaining until the minimum amount of electronic payments is reached.

University students can apply to become a part of the trainee program of Optima bank through the NSRF project. You can find out more about trainee positions available at Optima bank through the NSRF program, here.  

Once you send your  CV to [email protected], you will receive an automated message confirming that your CV has been received.

CVs are stored in our database for 1 year.

In the document "Information of the Customers of Optima bank S.A. on the Processing of Personal Data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)" you may find all the necessary information regarding the processing of your personal data on behalf of the bank.

• At the nearest Optima bank branch
• Contacting the Complaint Management Service by phone (+30 210 8173199) or via e-mail ([email protected])
• Sending a letter to Optima bank S.A. at 32 Aigialeias & Paradissou Str., 15125 Maroussi, to the attention of the Complaint Management Service. The letter must contain your full name and contact details and be signed.

Make sure that you describe your complaint accurately and clearly, explain to us the problem that has arisen and/or why you have been dissatisfied. Don't forget to attach any supporting documents related to the case, and provide your full personal information (name, father's name, Tax Identification Number and contact details, such as contact phone number, email address, postal address).

We do our best to respond to your complaint as soon as possible and in any case within the time frame set out by the applicable regulatory framework.

If you are not satisfied with the answer you received from the bank, you can contact the Hellenic Financial Ombudsman.