"Greek banks have managed to move from the era of crisis and recapitalizations to the era when high-quality investors are expressing their interest in them. This did not happen, it worked! And this success is due to the policy of this government, which has focused on the growth of the economy, which instead of demonizing banks recognizes that they have a vital role in this growth process, as is the case in all advanced countries of the world."

Kostis Hatzidakis, the Minister of Economy and Finance, emphasized this during his speech at the event for the presentation of Piraeus' new corporate identity. He said that Greek banks "are once again strong and ready to focus on what their job is: financing and supporting the real economy.".

"Our government wants a robust banking system with competition between banks. A banking system that provides attractive returns to savers and liquidity to businesses and households," Hatzidakis said. The initiatives of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance are also moving in this direction, such as:

• The institutionalization of the possibility for non-banking institutions to grant loans, in addition to consumer loans, housing loans, and some kinds of business loans.
• the support of the IRIS system, with low or zero fees on transactions.
• A 50% reduction in commissions for small transactions of up to €10 via POS.
  Promoting the emergence of the so-called fifth pillar of the Greek banking system.