Banks: Interbank holidays on 29 March and 1 April due to universal Easter

A holiday between them will be 29 March and 1 April due to a Catholic Easter, according to an official announcement from the Greek Banking Association. The trans-European automated long-term capital transfer system (TARGET) will be closed for transactions between banks on 29 March and 1 April 2024, Good Friday and the second day of Catholic Easter/ Protesters respectively. These days do not coincide with holidays within the Greek Territory and therefore, in accordance with Article 11 of Law 3336/2005, are days of special interbank holidays and the provisions of that Article will apply. On these dates, banks’ stores will remain open, as these days are working for staff. However, they will provide limited service to the trading public as the failure to operate the TARGET system does not allow certain interbank transactions to be carried out. The interbank holiday applies to the Bank of Greece, the companies of the Athens Stock Exchange Group, the company Interbank Systems S.A. and the following categories of business: Credit institutions (Banks) operating in Greece, including Greek credit institutions, the Deposits and Loans Fund and branches of foreign credit institutions. Investment Services Operations. Finance leasing companies and debt agency companies. Anonymous Mutual Funds Management Companies and Anonymous Portfolio Investment Companies. In the special holidays, all outstanding obligations arising from existing contracts between the entities concerned and their customers, as well as the other generally due, on the same days, obligations of such clients to any third party, are fulfilled on the following working day, i.e. Tuesday, 2 April 2024, when the consequences of any non-fulfillment begin. Transactions to be made to credit institutions on the days of the special holiday will be recorded in their systems on the date of the next working day, i.e. Tuesday, 2 April 2024. According to Article 11(5) of Law 3336/2005, obligations arising from the service of the Greek State’s public debt, loans and securities will be met in accordance with the special conditions of those on the previous or the following working day, i.e. Thursday, 28 March or Tuesday, 2 April. In accordance with a relevant directive of the Independent Public Revenue Authority, on 29 March and 1 April 2024, they will be accepted by the Public Economic Services (I.O.Y.) and the Customs Authorities of our country and bank cheques to be presented on 2 April 2024. Finally, it is recommended that organisations and businesses working directly with banks send debt records through standing orders and credit records (e.g. payroll), contact their cooperation bank for any further information or clarification.