During the last years in Greece, as well as worldwide, purchases of goods and services via electronic transactions by consumers and businesses has considerably increased.

In view of the Holiday season and due to the restrictive measures taken to cope with the adverse effects of the pandemic crisis Covid-19, the Hellenic Bank Association would like to raise awareness on the following issues:

The Hellenic Bank Association announces the decision of its member-banks to extend, due to the continuing adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the existing measures to strengthen the Greek economy. Taking into account the recent announcements by the supervisory authorities, it is specified that:

Banks stand by their customers in the second wave of COVID-19

• Unprecedented action from banks and authorities to help mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19
• Further measures to be considered to free up additional lending capacity
• New capital regulation to be delayed or amended until pandemic situation has stabilised

BRUSSELS, 20 November 2020 – European banks stand ready to keep up their support for businesses and households amid growing uncertainty around the speed and strength of the recovery.

While it is too early to assess the full impact of the second ongoing wave of Covid-19 on the economy, it is clear that extraordinary support will still be needed in the next months to help the European economy to regain its full strength. Board members of the European Banking Federation (EBF), bringing together national banking associations from 32 countries, met on Friday by video conference. They reviewed recent actions taken by banks, supervisors and regulators and renewed their commitment to continuing playing a constructive role in the crisis.  

The Hellenic Bank Association, expressing its full support for those affected, announces that its member-banks will refrain, until 31st December 2020, from any legal action concerning debts of enterprises and individuals established in Samos island.

The HBA informs the public of a new typology of fraud recently emerged, which uses the method of repairing an alleged computer failure or providing technical support scams. Fraudsters usually call unsuspecting citizens from abroad and impersonate technicians representing a large IT company. The telephone conversation is frequently conducted in English. On the pretext that their computer and/or mobile device is "infected" by malware, they ask citizens to install remote access software, in order to supposedly repair - fix the problem.