Opening a Bank Account in Crete…
When we first opened a bank account in Crete it was very simple, but we are hearing some rumblings about the EU requiring anti money-laundering measures to be introduced in all banks and financial institutions when people attempt to open an account. Opening an account in the UK was a nightmare, and it looks like things will be going that way here. You might be expected then to be required to produce documents which prove your identity (obviously), your residence, income, and where your lump sum (if any) came from. In line with the charming Greek culture, we can expect things to be introduced in a non-methodical way, so we can't really say when or how these measures will come into force. We opened an account as recently as December 2007 and all we needed were our passports and a document that had our tax number on it (any from the tax office - your accountant/lawyer will probably have one). Such changes apart, there are a number of banks vying for your custom here in Crete. The Crete banking system offers the majority of services that you would expect from any Bank in Europe, including user friendly cash machines, internet and telephone banking, credit cards, loans and mortgage services. We have had dealings with three of the biggest banks represented on Crete – the National Bank of Greece, Emporiki and ATE. We have found them all to be professional, courteous and with most staff fluent in English, incredibly helpful.
You will almost always need your passport when making cash withdrawals in person, and there maybe charges made on cash point withdrawals.
When you get a utility bill you'll get about 2 weeks to pay it. Miss the deadline and a few days later you'll be cut off (not water). Once your bill is paid, you'll be reconnected - no extra charge, though it's probably best to get the bills paid on time if you're going to be away from your property and not living in Crete. Back to the Living in Crete Page
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