Greece raises unseizable bank account limit to €1,600

The Greek Ministry of Finance announced that the protection ceiling for a single bank account declared as unseizable will increase from €1,250 to €1,600, the first change since 2015. The 28 % rise modestly outpaces the decade‑long cumulative inflation of about 20.8 % and is intended to give low‑income workers and pensioners a larger safety net against forced collections.

The Consumers’ Union of Greece (ΕΕΚΕ) warns that the benefit applies only to one account per person—usually a salary or pension account that must be formally registered with the tax authority (AADE) via Gov.gr or Taxisnet. Deposits in other accounts or undeclared funds remain exposed. For joint accounts each co‑owner must file a separate declaration to enjoy protection. ΕΕΚΕ also reports that banks continue to seize amounts below the set limit, creating short‑term cash‑flow problems for borrowers with public debts. Citizens are urged to verify their declarations, ensure all co‑owners of joint accounts have filed, and report any illegal banking practices.