Bank of Greece: private deposits rise €2.787bn in September — credit growth slows
Households and private non-profit institutions account for €428 million. Net lending flow is positive but annual growth slows; the lending survey is a separate measure.
Updated 27.10.2026 · 16:22, Athens time — What changed
On 27 October, the Bank of Greece published data for September 2026. Private-sector deposits rose by €2.787 billion. Companies accounted for €2.358 billion and households and private non-profit institutions for €428 million. The published component figures do not add up exactly to the announced total.
Total deposits of the domestic economy rose by €3.140 billion, including €353 million from general government. This total is not solely private-sector money. Annual private-sector deposit growth remained at 9.1%; for households and private non-profit institutions it reached 3.9%, up from 3.5%.
Positive lending flow, slower annual growth
The monthly net flow of bank credit to the private sector was positive at €735 million, while its annual growth rate fell to 6.0% from 7.3%. Slower annual growth does not mean a negative monthly net flow.
Net credit flow was €549 million to companies, €60 million to sole proprietors and unincorporated partnerships, and €126 million to individuals and private non-profit institutions.
A separate measure: the lending survey
The separate Q3 2026 Bank Lending Survey, also released on 27 October, reports unchanged credit standards for corporate, housing and consumer loans. Overall housing-loan terms tightened somewhat because of non-interest charges, while consumer-loan terms eased somewhat as banks’ margins declined.
The survey records banks’ responses about standards, terms and demand. It is not an individual lending approval or an interest-rate guarantee. Expectations for the next quarter remain forecasts.
For comparison with August, the new release uses a €2.826 billion rise in private-sector deposits and €485 million for households and private non-profit institutions. These differ from the figures carried in the original coverage below; the older figures remain as history, not as the current comparison basis.
Original coverage, 29 September — August history
The earlier report said private-sector deposits rose by €2.965 billion in August 2026, following a €2.014 billion decline in July. Corporate deposits rose by €2.380 billion and household and private non-profit institution deposits by €585 million. The annual growth rate of total deposits was 9.3%.
Credit to the economy in the earlier report
The earlier report put annual private-sector credit growth at 7.1%, with a positive monthly net flow of €478 million. The net flow to sole proprietors and unincorporated partnerships remained negative at €21 million. These are different categories and do not mean that lending increased to everyone.
Aggregate increases do not show their distribution
Total deposits do not establish how many households have emergency savings or how increases are distributed by income. Additional evidence is needed on small businesses’ access to credit and inflation’s effect on purchasing power.
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