Greece Credit Growth Rises to 4-Month High

Total credit extended to the Greek economy rose by 4.6% year-on-year in May 2026, marking the strongest growth since January, following a one-and-a-half-year low increase of 3.9% in the previous month. Credit to the private sector accelerated to 7.4% from 6.8% in April, while the monthly net flow of credit remained positive at €1,315 million, up from a negative net flow of €1,216 million in the previous month. At the same time, credit to the general government remained unchanged after posting 0.7% decline in the previous month, with a positive monthly net flow of €329 million, compared with a positive net flow of €135 million in April.

Total credit extended to the Greek economy rose by 3.9% year-on-year in April 2026, the smallest increase since September 2024, following an upwardly revised 4.5% advance in the prior month. Credit to the private sector decreased to 6.8% from 7.7% in March. The monthly net flow of credit was negative by €1,216 million, compared with a positive net flow of €2,409 million in the previous month. At the same time, credit to the general government fell by 0.7% in April, following a 0.8% decrease in the prior month. The monthly net flow of bank credit to the general government was positive by €135 million, compared with a positive net flow of €1,124 million in the previous month.

Total credit extended to the Greek economy increased by 4.4% year-on-year in March 2026, following a more than one-year low of 4.2% in the previous month. Credit to the private sector edged up to 7.6% from 7.4% in February. The monthly net flow of financing to the private sector stood at a positive €2,387 million, compared with €1,264 million a month earlier. Moreover, credit to the general government fell by 0.8% in March, easing from a 1.0% decline previously. The monthly net flow of financing to the general government turned positive at €1,137 million, compared with -€2,950 million in the prior month.