Aegean Visa Card
#31
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Crete
Programs: A3G
Posts: 36
My best advice: do not get get involved with a Greek Credit card if you are a non-Greek resident in Greece. The banks are very difficult for the Greeks. As for foreigners Greek banks got their fingers burned in the mortgage market for EU nationals buying property in the country before the financial crash. The housing market prices collapsed and foreigners just walked away leaving huge debts. So of course bank are 'reluctant' to deal with foreigners. Second point. The Greek tax structure is dynamite. Stay clear except for the absolute bare minimum of 'have to'. Aegean does not encourage anyone but Greek resident Greeks to apply. Doesn't that tell you something? I think there are too many 'wise guy' comments in this thread from contributors who have not thought through clearly of what is involved.
#33
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: BRU
Programs: A3 *G & FB G
Posts: 635
My best advice: do not get get involved with a Greek Credit card if you are a non-Greek resident in Greece. The banks are very difficult for the Greeks. As for foreigners Greek banks got their fingers burned in the mortgage market for EU nationals buying property in the country before the financial crash. The housing market prices collapsed and foreigners just walked away leaving huge debts. So of course bank are 'reluctant' to deal with foreigners. Second point. The Greek tax structure is dynamite. Stay clear except for the absolute bare minimum of 'have to'. Aegean does not encourage anyone but Greek resident Greeks to apply. Doesn't that tell you something? I think there are too many 'wise guy' comments in this thread from contributors who have not thought through clearly of what is involved.
I myself was interested because I might have the advantage that I'm half Greek and my father lives with me in Belgium but is Greek and has AFM for his Greek properties (however income in Belgium). My Greek is not on point that I can talk about bank details so I'm too shy to do the conversation in Greek and I'd rather do it in English. Except if you still discourage me to get a visa after all this.
Kind regards,
George
#34
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,557
What about you? You're in Greece, do you have an Aegean Visa?
I myself was interested because I might have the advantage that I'm half Greek and my father lives with me in Belgium but is Greek and has AFM for his Greek properties (however income in Belgium). My Greek is not on point that I can talk about bank details so I'm too shy to do the conversation in Greek and I'd rather do it in English. Except if you still discourage me to get a visa after all this.
Kind regards,
George
I myself was interested because I might have the advantage that I'm half Greek and my father lives with me in Belgium but is Greek and has AFM for his Greek properties (however income in Belgium). My Greek is not on point that I can talk about bank details so I'm too shy to do the conversation in Greek and I'd rather do it in English. Except if you still discourage me to get a visa after all this.
Kind regards,
George
As for a Greek Aegean-branded credit card, as many people have written before, you'll need your own AFM (ΑΦΜ) to open an account plus a copy of your last tax return summary (εκκαθαριστικό εφορίας) plus a utilities bill. The last two items are required annually, although hardly any bank asks for the unless you ask for a new PIN number, or you change your address. Are the bonuses so important to go through that?
PS I have a M&M credit card and although I no longer fly with them, I got an additional ~25000 miles during the last couple of years
#35
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Guys forget it, to get a new credit card account in GR with Alpha you need at least 2,000 EUR a month 'declared' income on your tax statement and a owned property (maybe even 2) in Greece in your own name so they can chase you if you default and auction your house . It is very difficult to get a credit card in GR these days, even for Greek residents born and raised in GR! Most of people's credit cards in GR were acquired from the 'party days' when the banks were calling you to get a credit card, not the other way around!
However, think about this, in GR you can at least use an Alpha Bank Debit Card Amex that collects points 'Alpha Bank Bonus' that can be used to redeem points to buy Aegean tickets. So if I was in GR and had to use Greek banks (most foreigners in GR use their foreign cards while in GR and don't rely on GR banking at all) to recieve my salary, I would be getting myself an Alpha Bank Amex rewards Debit Card.
However, think about this, in GR you can at least use an Alpha Bank Debit Card Amex that collects points 'Alpha Bank Bonus' that can be used to redeem points to buy Aegean tickets. So if I was in GR and had to use Greek banks (most foreigners in GR use their foreign cards while in GR and don't rely on GR banking at all) to recieve my salary, I would be getting myself an Alpha Bank Amex rewards Debit Card.
#36
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: BRU
Programs: A3 *G & FB G
Posts: 635
So my (Greek) father just went to a Alpha Card Branch in Athens and they told him a lot will change in 2018 and that it will be easier to get one as a foreigner.
The debit card ahmetdouas is talking about is the 'MyBonus' by Alpha Bank I think? This does not give Miles+Bonus miles if I'm correct.
I have a property in Greece which is the reason they gave me a AFM number to pay taxes on the property. Lets see if I will be able to get a Visa in 2018...
The debit card ahmetdouas is talking about is the 'MyBonus' by Alpha Bank I think? This does not give Miles+Bonus miles if I'm correct.
I have a property in Greece which is the reason they gave me a AFM number to pay taxes on the property. Lets see if I will be able to get a Visa in 2018...
#37
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
So my (Greek) father just went to a Alpha Card Branch in Athens and they told him a lot will change in 2018 and that it will be easier to get one as a foreigner.
The debit card ahmetdouas is talking about is the 'MyBonus' by Alpha Bank I think? This does not give Miles+Bonus miles if I'm correct.
I have a property in Greece which is the reason they gave me a AFM number to pay taxes on the property. Lets see if I will be able to get a Visa in 2018...
The debit card ahmetdouas is talking about is the 'MyBonus' by Alpha Bank I think? This does not give Miles+Bonus miles if I'm correct.
I have a property in Greece which is the reason they gave me a AFM number to pay taxes on the property. Lets see if I will be able to get a Visa in 2018...
That sounds like good news, I guess they are desperate to bring money into Greek banks so I hope they make it easier for foreigners to open bank accounts.
The Alpha Bank Enter Bonus Amex, which is a debit card. You collect bonus points, which you can redeem on Aegean.
#38
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: THY Elite Plus, Aegean Gold, LH FTL. Former BA Gold, Air France Platinum, Czech Gold, United PE.
Posts: 643
The normal way that Alpha Bank get security for their credit cards is to require a blocked deposit account for 10% more than the credit limit they give. With this, they do not need to see evidence of property ownership. Of course, mechanisms to pay the monthly bill need to be set in place like a current account or direct debit mandate.
#39
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 42
The normal way that Alpha Bank get security for their credit cards is to require a blocked deposit account for 10% more than the credit limit they give. With this, they do not need to see evidence of property ownership. Of course, mechanisms to pay the monthly bill need to be set in place like a current account or direct debit mandate.
#40
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: THY Elite Plus, Aegean Gold, LH FTL. Former BA Gold, Air France Platinum, Czech Gold, United PE.
Posts: 643
#42
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: THY Elite Plus, Aegean Gold, LH FTL. Former BA Gold, Air France Platinum, Czech Gold, United PE.
Posts: 643
I can only begin to imagine what 'P' means. But it is perhaps necessary to get real: what bank manager in his right mind is going to give an Aegean Visa credit card to someone with declared earnings of 833 a month? Such a person could hardly pay the subscription fee and what miles would they be able to collect? A debit card perhaps?
#43
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,368
I can only begin to imagine what 'P' means. But it is perhaps necessary to get real: what bank manager in his right mind is going to give an Aegean Visa credit card to someone with declared earnings of 833 a month? Such a person could hardly pay the subscription fee and what miles would they be able to collect? A debit card perhaps?
#44
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: THY Elite Plus, Aegean Gold, LH FTL. Former BA Gold, Air France Platinum, Czech Gold, United PE.
Posts: 643
It's not a great amount is it? But it's a pretty typical salary in Greece at the moment and many, even in 'professional' jobs earn even less. What I don't understand is that if the total amount of the credit-limit has to be covered at all times by blocked funds then, in effect it IS a Debit card isn't it? Or am I missing something?
#45
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: lounge next door
Programs: *A Gold / ST Elite+ / OWS / EK G / HH Diam. / MR Tit / Hyatt GLOB / IHG Diam. / SL Jade / GHA Tit.
Posts: 1,500
This type of arrangement is used for all new Aegean Visa Cards in Cyprus. The blocked funds of 110% of the credit limit are merely used for security and the Visa Card bill is paid monthly via a current account. With a debit card, each transaction is debited immediately from the linked current account. After a couple of years, Alpha Bank will typically allow the customer an increase in credit limit for the Aegean Visa Card without any increase in blocked funds.