Little use of cards in services

The value of debit and credit cards transactions by Greeks last year reached 49.6 billion euros, accounting for approximately 38% of private consumption. This percentage was strengthened from the restrictive measures put in place during the pandemic that over the last three years have made plastic money transactions soar, contributing to the convergence with the European average in terms of the card use ratio.

However, as the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) notes in the study titled "Electronic Payments in Greece during the Pandemic," the level of card usage in relation to private consumption in Greece remains the 18th lowest among the 27 European Union members, as the card use remains relatively low mainly as services.

Presenting the findings of the study, IOBE General Director Nikos Vettas associated the need for greater dissemination of...