New guide for banks published by the Union of Greek Banks

What now applies to transactions at the counters and ATMs

The capital controls have radically changed the lives of Greeks struggle to cope with daily paid their obligations, and should be set up for days in queues of banks to raise the amount they wish.

However, because lately they have changed the way in which people can receive money from ATMs, today the Greek Bank Association (HBA) released new updated answers to some of the frequently asked questions that have traders.

In particular the announcement of the SCF states:

1. What changes with the new legislative act? On Monday, July 20, 2015, repealed the bank holiday and all bank branches are open for the transaction public. In addition, the new Act all banking operations are permitted except those expressly prohibited under the Act Legislative Content.

2. What about cash withdrawals? Cash withdrawal by traders from branch or ATM may not exceed the daily amount of EUR 60 per depositor per bank. However, given the portability of the daily limit of 60 euros in the next day and no later than the end of the week. That is, each week the beneficiary can withdraw up to the amount of four hundred and twenty (420) Euros maximum.

3. Allowed cash withdrawal in foreign currency from a bank branch? Yes, until the daily limit equivalent (based on the current daily exchange rate) of 60 euros in foreign currency. And in that case, the portability of the daily limit on the day and at the latest at the end of the week.

4. Allow a check deposit? Yes, you may deposit bank and private checks solely credited bank account. Cash payment check is not permitted.

5. Can I access my mailbox? Yes, you can access or compliance with the normal procedure, that is to order that the or at the behest of the bank with which you trade. To this end, already published announcements banks members of the EBC.

6. Can I use my debit card for cash withdrawals abroad? Yes, according to the daily and / or weekly maximum withdrawal amount limit that applies in Greece.

7. Can I use my credit or prepaid card for cash withdrawals in Greece and abroad? NO, the transaction is not permitted.

8. Can I use credit, debit and / or my prepaid card to make purchases in Greece? YES. Credit, debit and prepaid cards are normally used for purchases of goods and services within Greece, up to the limit laid down in your contract with the bank.

9. Can I use my credit or debit card to make purchases abroad? Yes, if you are abroad and your transaction made ​​using the card, you can use your card to purchase goods and services abroad: – up to the limit under your contract with the bank, and – within the daily limit of an amount approved for each bank separately from the Banking Commission’s approval.

10. Can I use credit, debit and / or prepaid my card to make purchases on the Internet? Yes, without restrictions if the online stores have an account with a bank operating in Greece.

Since the webshops account with a bank abroad, you using your card: – up to the limit laid down in your contract with the bank, – within the daily limit of an amount approved for each bank separately from the Banking Commission’s approval, and for the following categories of transactions: – airline ticket purchases companies – Hotels payments – car rental, – travel and transfer payments, – payments of digital music content providers and applications (Applications), – payments of subscriptions for registration or renewal of a member’s participation in professional associations (lawyers’ / medical associations, etc. .) and / or scientific and other forms – paying education services (tuition / outbreaks residence / subscription libraries, etc.), – insurance payments, medical and pharmaceutical expenses.

11. If I lose or I steal my card or for any other reason I can not do my card with a transaction what can I do? You should declare the loss of your card the bank which issued it. For the procedure of your new card will be informed by the competent department of the bank.

12. Can I open a new account? NO, unless the opening of new account concerns only the following transactions, the need for which should be documented in writing and provided that there is no other available account through which they can be performed: – payroll payment, including the issuance and redemption ergosimou, – payment obligations of the depositor to the same bank, arising from contracts that were drawn up before 28 June 2015, – payment of new pensions and youth welfare benefits, – clearing of card transactions from new contracts acceptance (acquiring), – service newly established after May 1, 2015, legal persons – service startups companies (startups) participating in new entrepreneurship support programs, – cash deposit as collateral (cash collateral) letter of guarantee, letter of credit or loan in the same bank – account opening for third purpose or compliance with requirement for execution of monetary claim under a payment order, judgment or other enforceable title or a claim settlement, which has been imposed garnishee third, for the recipient of requirements unless he has declared deposit account with any procedural act, – credit funds from abroad in euros or foreign currency amounting to at least ten thousand (10,000) euros or the equivalent in foreign currency, – accepting term deposit only if the recipients of coincide with the beneficiaries of the current account of the feeder, deposit or sight – all other cases, upon approval by the Committee on Banking Authorization.

13. Can I add a joint holder to an existing deposit account? NO, this banking transaction is not permitted.

14. I can prematurely repay my loan? Early, partial or total repayment of the loan you are allowed only by cash deposit or funds transfer (remittance) from abroad.

15. Can I request early termination of my term deposit? NO, unless early termination relates only to equal payment: – debts to the State and social security providers – the current dose and overdue loan debt in the same bank – salary payment in the same bank – payment fees and hospitalization costs in Greece and abroad, – payment of suppliers which hold an account with the same bank against invoices or equivalent documents, provided that there are sufficient cash to deposit savings or checking account.

16. I am now wishing to start accepting transactions with credit, debit and prepaid cards. Can I do it? YES, if a training contract with a bank, a payment institution, and / or electronic money institution operating in Greece. In this case, it opens any new account for clearing transactions cards based on this new contract. Instead, it permitted trades acceptance contracts with payment cards if the liquidation is carried out by merchant account credit, which is kept in bank, a payment institution, and / or electronic money institution abroad.

17. I am now accepting transactions with credit, debit and prepaid cards. When will my account be credited? The settlement of transactions with payment cards, Greek and foreign, will be made ​​by crediting the business account as provided in your contract.

18. Can a company to deny card transactions? NO, because in Legislative Act Content provided that whoever refuses to pay credit, debit and prepaid cards punished severely with fines and / or imprisonment under the provisions: – Articles 288 Fri the 1st and 452 of the Penal Code – Article 13a of Law. 2251/1994 (A 191), – Article 18 a n. 146/1914 (A 21), and – Article 19 n. 4177/2013 (A. 173), as applicable. 19. Credit and debit cards are normally used foreign banks? Credit and debit cards of foreign banks if issued abroad are used for purchases of goods and services and for cash withdrawals without restrictions within the limits of your contract with the issuing bank.

20. Transfers can be made ​​from abroad? YES. The transfer of funds from accounts held in foreign bank to an account with a bank operating in Greece are allowed.

21. The transfer of funds abroad allowed? NO, unless included in the exemptions processed on a daily basis, the Commission Banking Approval and for which grant special leave. For those cases permitted a transfer or a transfer of funds abroad is responsible for deciding the Commission Approval Banking.

The demands of traders can be submitted to the cooperative bank. Then the bank will send a request to the Commission Approval Banking which will approve all or part of the requested amount when the transactions are deemed necessary and sufficiently justified.

22. How can I pay hospitalization costs and medical expenses? Payment hospitalization costs and medical expenses is no limit approval of the Banking Commission authorized under the following conditions: – presentation of the necessary documents to the bank through which the transaction was carried out, and – transfer the funds cover hospitalization costs and medical expenses on credit to a bank account of the medical institution and not on behalf of the same beneficiary. Also, the takeover of the bank account and the transfer abroad cash maximum lump sum of two thousand (2,000) EUR or equivalent of foreign currency for one person accompanying person traveling abroad for treatment, provided written documentation of the purpose of the transition.

23. How can you pay tuition at an educational institution abroad? The payment of tuition fees is no limit approval of the Banking Commission authorized under the following conditions: – presentation of the necessary documents to the bank through which the transaction was carried out, and – transfer the money amount by crediting a bank account of the institution and not to one’s own beneficiary.

Also, the transport maximum of five thousand (5,000) euros or the equivalent in foreign currency per calendar quarter total for accommodation and subsistence costs students studying abroad or participating in student exchange programs. Payment takes place as required, in an account held abroad, the student beneficiary.

24. Amounts credited to my bank account from abroad can be transferred back abroad? Yes, in full. However, you may not withdraw cash all the transferred foreign funds. The assumption can be made ​​within the daily and / or weekly limit, except for shipping companies referred to in Law. 27/1975, 959/1979 and N.S. 2687/1953, which can make and cash withdrawals to the amount of fifty thousand (50,000) per day.

By decision of the Banking Transaction Approval may be authorized to undertake and to set cash withdrawal amount limit per day -more of general application – for other business sectors, falling within the scope of that legislation. The relevant documentation of capital inflow transaction from abroad and re-pouring them abroad, it will be the responsibility of the bank and must be complete. Banks will announce the manner and the time of implementation of the application of this possibility.

25. The cash transfer allowed abroad? Carry euro banknotes or in foreign currency up to the amount of EUR two thousand (2,000) or the equivalent in foreign currency per individual and per journey abroad. Since the limitation of 2,000 euros excluding permanent residents abroad.

By decision of the Governor of the Bank of Greece may regulate specific issues of implementation of the above prohibition, be provided for variations countries SCHENGEN area and countries outside the European Union and to introduce special exemptions for categories of persons.

26. Permitted pecuniary claim seized at bank held by cash? NO, in cases where a monetary claim held by the bank, the Bank of Greece or the Deposit and Loans Fund as a third party, the amount is paid either by check issuance or compulsorily credited to a bank account confiscating held with the same or another bank.

27. What about payment transactions for commercial purposes abroad (imports payment)? For cases where a transfer or a transfer of funds abroad is permitted, responsible for deciding the Banking Committee Approval. However, by decision of the Approval Committee Banking (Government Gazette 1563 / 24.07.2015) was given the banks the opportunity to consider and evaluate customer requests legal persons or traders who apply for making payments against documents (eg invoices, pro forma invoices, bills of lading, etc.), opening new letters of credit and credit on hold, and issue new letters of guarantee, to the outer part of their business activities.

The daily limit reputable banks per working day defined: – from 0 to 100,000 per customer (with one or more daily transactions ), and – within the amount limit set and announced by the Commission in each bank individually. The monthly limit any reputable bank client can not exceed the average monthly value of imported goods and raw and auxiliary materials in the previous year, through this bank.

Testing for the assistance of those conditions is done by the bank, requesting any necessary document and document from the customer. In any case, requests for import payments for commercial purposes should be provided, irrespective of the size amount of relevant documents from stakeholders to the service points of customers of banks, in accordance with the relevant instructions provided.

Then the bank will either handle its own or will send a request to the Commission Approval Banking which will approve all or part of the requested amount. Both banks and the Banking Commission Approval priority consideration transactions, which are necessary to safeguard public or social interest, including, inter alia, imports of pharmaceuticals, food, raw materials and fuels. 28. Permitted payment under letters of guarantee? YES, if the amount of the payment is deposited in a bank account.

29. The allocation of new funds allowed? Yes, if the conditions set by law and the business policy of the bank are met.

30. Allow repayment / redemption of open loans and limits? YES permitted under the terms and conditions of your contract to your bank.

31. Withdraw cash from embassies allowed? permitted without restriction amount of cash from one per beneficiary bank account in embassies and members of diplomatic missions in Greece by producing written certification from the relevant embassy or diplomatic passport.

32. Payments payroll overseas workers allowed? NO, if the account is charged for wage payments is kept in a bank operating in Greece and accounts credited held with banks abroad. By restricting the excluded employees in diplomatic missions, permanent representations or other departments of the Greek government.