Six in 10 Greeks borrow to pay their bills, survey finds
Six in 10 consumers in Greece say they have borrowed money or used a credit card to pay a bill during the past six months, according to the 2026 European Consumer Payment Report (ECPR) published by Intrum.
The figure is higher than the European average of 56%, highlighting the extent to which borrowing and flexible payment methods are being used by consumers to manage household expenses. The report is based on a survey of 20,000 consumers across 20 European countries, including Greece, with fieldwork conducted between July 9 and August 20, 2026.
LATE PAYMENTS RISE IN GREECE
The survey found that 37% of consumers in Greece had paid at least one bill late during the previous 12 months. The figure compares with 29% across the 20 European markets surveyed.
Across Europe, the share of consumers reporting at least one late bill payment increased from 24% in 2025 to 29% in 2026, after two consecutive years of improvement. Intrum said the increase was mainly associated with consumers reporting occasional late payments rather than persistent non-payment.
The Greek figure also represents an increase from 33% recorded in the country in 2025, according to reporting on the survey.
BNPL USE REMAINS HIGH
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) services have also gained ground among Greek consumers.
According to the survey data, 47% of consumers in Greece used a BNPL service during the previous 12 months, compared with 40% across Europe. Overall, 57% of European consumers said they had used BNPL at some point.
Intrum noted that BNPL can serve different purposes depending on consumers' financial circumstances. Among financially fragile consumers across Europe, 31% reported using BNPL at least once a month, compared with 9% of consumers classified as coping and 4% of financially resilient consumers.
The report also notes that BNPL is coming under the scope of the revised Consumer Credit Directive (CCD2), increasing the relevance of consumer protection and responsible use of the payment model.
AI ENTERS PERSONAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT
Technology is also playing a growing role in how consumers manage their finances.
Across Europe, 29% of respondents said they use AI tools to help manage their personal finances, more than double the 13% recorded in 2025. In Greece, the corresponding figure was 21%.
Intrum's research also found that consumers continue to value human support alongside digital tools. The report says 56% of European respondents would trust AI more if they knew they could speak to a human adviser when necessary.
PRESSURE EXTENDS TO BUSINESSES
The payment difficulties reported by consumers also coincide with challenges for businesses.
Intrum's separate European Payment Report 2026, based on 8,385 business executives across 20 European countries, found that 62% of businesses said delayed customer payments lead them to pay their own suppliers late. The report said late payments are putting pressure on business cash flow and creating a knock-on effect across supply chains.
The consumer and business reports measure different populations and were conducted as separate surveys, but together they provide data on payment pressures affecting both households and companies in Europe.
