Bank of Greece maintains stable capital buffers for four systemic banks

The Bank of Greece has designated Alpha Bank, National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank, and Eurobank as Other Systemically Important Institutions (O-SII) for 2026. The central bank also confirmed that additional capital safety buffer requirements for these four banks will remain unchanged for 2027, effective January 1, 2027. Specifically, Eurobank will maintain a 1.25% buffer on a consolidated basis and 1% on an individual basis, while the other three banks will maintain a 1% buffer for both individual and consolidated bases.

Regarding the broader economy, Fitch Ratings maintained Greece's credit rating at ‘BBB’ with a stable outlook, noting fiscal progress and a projected debt reduction to approximately 120% of GDP by 2030. Meanwhile, Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis highlighted that Greece is among the five EU nations showing a fiscal surplus during discussions at the IMF summit.

On the European stage, negotiations in Brussels regarding the long-term budget and energy costs have reached a deadlock. Northern European nations are calling for spending cuts in areas such as defense and agriculture, while Southern nations, including Greece, advocate for more flexible fiscal rules to manage energy costs and support households.