What documents are necessary for a foreigner to open a bank account?

Anyone opening a bank account in Greece – even locals – will need a hefty amount of paperwork to assure the bank they’re creditworthy.

As a foreigner, you might need to have documents translated or notarized, which can add to the expense and complexity. Some banks, however, will accept documents in English as well as Greek. Check out exactly what your bank needs with plenty of time to spare.

1. Passport
2. Contact number
3. Proof of address – usually banks will accept a recent utility bill
4. Local AFM tax number
5. Tax registration number in the country of origin, Greek tax registration number, where applicable;
6. Evidence of your salary – either payslips or a letter from your employer will usually be OK
7. Signature sample (which means that the person concerned needs to appear at the bank in person at least once).
8. You may also be asked to provide a reference from your previous bank to show you’re creditworthy and sign a declaration confirming you’re opening an account for personal use rather than for a business

The above information must be evidenced by official documents which cannot be falsified.

Therefore, the bank will normally request a power / telephone / water bill, a lease agreement, a payroll statement, a tax clearance certificate etc.

Moreover, given that these documents are executed in a foreign language, the bank will normally require that they be Apostilled, in order to ensure document originality (this entails further difficulties, as the foreigner will have to address a municipal service, a district court or a notary at his/her country of origin, depending on what applies in each country, in order to have copies of the above documents officially certified or have the notary’s signature Apostilled etc.)

The information required by each bank may slightly vary, but Bank of Greece definitely requires the information set out above.