Government vows action over ATM withdrawal fees amid public backlash
The Greek government announced on Friday that it is prepared to take legislative measures to address concerns over newly imposed withdrawal fees at ATMs previously operated by Piraeus Bank, now managed by private firm Cashflex.
Government sources speaking to local media emphasized that “no loophole for withdrawal charges will be tolerated, not even at a portion of ATMs,” and pledged immediate intervention if a two-tiered fee system is confirmed.
The controversy arose after numerous consumers reported being charged up to €2.10 to withdraw cash from ATMs they had previously used for free. These machines—approximately 850 in total—were sold by Piraeus Bank to Cashflex, a company in which the bank still holds a 20% stake.
Many of the affected ATMs are strategically located in high-traffic public areas, including metro stations, hospitals, supermarkets, and airports, making the issue especially significant for daily commuters and vulnerable groups.
The move has drawn criticism from opposition parties in Parliament. PASOK MPs Pavlos Geroulanos and Milena Apostolaki accused the government of failing to prevent banks from circumventing consumer protection rules. SYRIZA spokesperson Kostas Zachariadis went further, labeling the situation “a major scam,” and criticized the fact that citizens are now being charged even for basic services such as checking their account balance.
The government has yet to announce specific legislation but insists that it will act decisively if the fee practices are deemed exploitative or in breach of existing regulations.
