The Bank of Greece published its quarterly systemic risk assessment for Greece for Q2 2026 and decided to keep the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB) rate unchanged at 0.5%, citing low cyclical systemic risks and a standard risk environment. The assessment considered the standardised credit-to-GDP gap, the European Systemic Risk Board buffer guide, and additional indicators tracking credit developments, private sector indebtedness, residential and commercial real estate prices, external imbalances, the banking sector, and capital markets. The buffer guide remained at zero as the credit-to-GDP gap has been negative since Q3 2012 and stood at -21.0 percentage points in Q3 2025. While some indicators pointed to emerging cyclical risks in areas including credit growth to non-financial corporations, residential real estate prices and the current account, the analysis did not identify excessive credit growth overall. The 0.5% CCyB rate is set to apply from 1 October 2026. For the period from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, credit institutions are required to maintain a CCyB rate of 0.25%, within the Bank of Greece’s positive neutral CCyB framework.
Bank of Greece 2026-04-27
Bank of Greece keeps Greece countercyclical capital buffer at 0.5% from 1 October 2026
The Bank of Greece published its Q2 2026 systemic risk assessment and decided to maintain the countercyclical capital buffer rate at 0.5%, citing low cyclical systemic risks despite emerging pressures in corporate credit, residential real estate and the current account. The decision reflects a negative credit-to-GDP gap and a zero buffer guide, with credit institutions required to maintain a 0.25% countercyclical capital buffer between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026 under the positive neutral framework.