How I opened an account in the Greek Alpha bank

Due to the fact that non-cash money transfers between banks are subject to fairly substantial commissions, and the author of these lines has several partners in the Greek Alpha bank, I decided to open an account with it and did not even suspect what kind of ordeal it could turn into.

Having experience of working with various banks in Greece and beyond, I collected a package of documents and went to the nearest branch of this bank to me. Seeing a good dozen bored clerks, I went to the last table and asked how I could open an account.

They gave me an appraising look and immediately pointed out that “for this you need to sign up by phone or through the site.”

– “Okay, but can I get a list of documents that are needed for this?”.

No, they’ll tell you over the phone.

– Is it that difficult?

– We have such rules.

– Ok, I’ll call.

I turned around and left the bank. After thinking for a bit, I decided maybe I should go to another branch?

But in another department they answered me that they do not serve our area, but they wrote a list of necessary documents on a piece of paper. And then for the joy … Returning to the office, I called Alpha bank and, after waiting only 10 minutes, went to the clerk.

– Hello, I want to open an account for my company.

– Why do you need an account?

I, at a loss from the meaning of the question asked, answered – for work, my partners have an account in your bank, and I don’t want to wait for several days (in Greece, money goes between banks up to 3 days. Apparently documents are transported on snails), and also do not want to pay high commissions for these calculations.

– Then tell me your details.

– Can I send them to your email?

– Not allowed.

– Okay, I’m dictating … (they seem to have written it down 25 times …).

– I can’t make an appointment in your area, there is a queue until mid-June, but I can make an appointment in another department nearby. Then in 2 weeks, on May 31, at 12-00. But we will call you back.

A day later, a call: “Can you clarify your tax number, date of birth and address?”.

“Yes please”. I name the numbers, they ask me again, but it seems like they wrote it down correctly.

– We will call you back and notify you in a separate letter …

But apparently they forgot about me…

May 31, and I go to the branch, but they don’t know that I have a meeting at the bank. Apparently they forgot. But they recommended to find an appointment booking system through Google.

On May 31, already quite nervous, I found an appointment form, filled out 3 pages and made an appointment for June 16. An hour after the recording, a call: “Are you sure you want to open an account with us? Why?” I patiently explain, for work, my partners … “Ah, well,” they hang up on the other side.

The next day, in the morning, I got a call: “Come to the bank now, we will check your documents so that later on the 16th you will not be checked.”

– Can’t you do it right away on the 16th?

– You can’t, it’s necessary for order …

– I can’t now, I have another meeting.

– Then let’s go to 13-00.

An hour later, another call: “You can come earlier. Can you now?”

– Yes, in 30 minutes.

I come, I take the elevator, I go into the hall with dozens of clerks at the tables. I find what I’m looking for and wait another 15 minutes for the clerk to talk to my boss

– Why do you want to open an account in our bank?

– I explain for the 4th time.

– Have you brought your documents?

– Yes please.

– Yes, everything is fine, but you will need to buy insurance from us. It costs 86 euros per year.

– What for? I have insurance.

– You understand, other banks charge high service fees or ask you to deposit 50 thousand euros into your account …

I interrupt: “Are there many who put 50,000 into the account?”

– …..

– Can’t you do it without insurance?

– No, this is the rule of our bank.

– Is it legal?

– Our bank has such rules.

– It’s clear, you know, I changed my mind about opening an account in your bank.

– Goodbye.

Here I sit and think, I don’t inspire confidence with a valid 22-year residence permit and documents of an entrepreneur since 2004, or is it still such a bank …

For reference: a transfer between Greek banks costs an average of 1.8 to 5 euros per transaction, which are usually charged to both the sender and the recipient.

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