Empowering through financial literacy and digital proficiency for a seamless banking experience

Managing your finances isn’t just about tallying your income and expenses. It’s what will determine your financial future and ensure a comfortable living standard after retirement. However, evolving technology, the plethora of options and new terminology can be challenging. That’s why it’s important to become financially literate, helping you make those important financial decisions that come up in your life.

Financial literacy relates to managing our finances, such as making savings or investments, avoiding excessive borrowing, and planning ahead for retirement. It’s also about understanding basic concepts like inflation, or why interest rates rise and how these might affect us. At the same time, consumers need to improve their digital proficiency since almost everything is done on a smartphone these days. People must be able to manage their finances independently while also avoiding electronic fraud.

Training people on this subject is urgent and a matter that concerns us all. In this context and given that enhancing financial literacy primarily falls under its social policy actions, Hellenic Bank is implementing a targeted strategy through various initiatives while also supporting actions that boost knowledge of financial matters.

The Bank primarily aims to achieve this by introducing its customers to its digital channels. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, where everyone needed to become acquainted with digital transactions, specialised staff at Hellenic Bank branches are there to help customers familiarise themselves with the alternative channels that provide various banking services. We aim to “train” our customers on how to use ATMs, as well as how to log into and use Online Banking and the Hellenic Bank Mobile App. In this way, customers gain immediate access to their accounts, so they can transfer funds, make payments, or apply for a loan quickly and easily.

Once customers have access to the digital channels, they can easily view and manage their accounts, make sound decisions and handle an array of financial issues, all without needing to visit a bank branch. To illustrate, 98.7 per cent of funds transfers are now done via Online Banking.

Meanwhile, the modernisation of Hellenic Bank’s ATMs offers customers fast and straightforward solutions to basic transactions, available 24/7. That’s why basic transactions, such as automatic deposits in ATMs, have skyrocketed. Now, 88 per cent of deposits are done through ATMs, while the old way of making a deposit at the bank cashier accounts for just 12 per cent.

What’s more, video tutorials are freely available on social media, offering customers step-by-step instructions on how to use the App and how to protect against electronic scams.

By calling 8000 9999 toll-free, customers can get personalised assistance and guidance via the Call Centre on how to correctly use cards and the digital channels.

All made simple on the smart phone

The Hellenic Bank Mobile App is constantly being upgraded with new features, offering customers the ability to carry out fast and easy transactions without the hassle of visiting a branch or incurring extra charges.

With its user-friendly design and incorporating biometric features, the Hellenic Bank Mobile App is a valuable tool for your day-to-day banking needs. It offers a truly effortless banking experience, whenever and wherever.

Meanwhile, Hellenic Bank customers can now apply for a home loan, car loan, personal loan, credit card or a ‘limit account’ by connecting to the Hellenic Bank Mobile App and following a few simple steps. Users of the Hellenic Bank Mobile App connect at any time and select from the ‘Loan Products’ on offer. Once a loan application is approved, the documents are signed electronically, meaning customers no longer have to visit a bank branch for their personal products. The same goes for opening an account or updating customer data – all this can now be done digitally.

CONTACT PAY

Contact Pay has simplified the previously time-consuming and complex process of transferring funds. It’s now as simple as sending an SMS from your mobile phone. Using Contact Pay, users can send or receive funds to and from contacts saved on their mobile, to and from Hellenic Bank accounts, in real-time and at no charge.

Be safe with FREEZE

Cards have become an integral part of our daily lives, so there’s always the risk of losing them or having them stolen. Here again, the Hellenic Bank Mobile App provides the solution – at the push of a button. Users can at any time temporarily deactivate their card for security reasons, in case a card is lost or stolen. Go to ‘Cards’, and under the ‘Cards Management’ section you’ll find the ‘Freeze Card’ option. Users can use the same process to reactivate their card, by selecting the ‘Unfreeze’ option. You can also declare whether your card has been lost or stolen and manage your card alerts to stay updated about your transactions via SMS or push notifications.

Virual Cards

For extra security in transactions, Hellenic Bank has added the option of creating a one-time-use virtual card. Users can create the virtual card every time they want to perform a transaction online. Next, the system automatically destroys the data on the virtual card. Then, the system generates new data, which comes up directly on the app and is ready for the next online purchase.

Security and authentication

Connecting to the app is done biometrically, without having to enter a password. Rather, this is done with fingerprint or face recognition (FaceID). Authentication is faster and easier than ever – no need for an SMS or OTP or other similar time-consuming process. In a matter of seconds, users can gain access to their accounts, their cards and their transactions. They can transfer funds, make payments or settle utility bills with 17 types of organisations and more than 1,200 accounts.

Customers can view their PIN for their card, as well as view and schedule payments and standing orders, transfer funds between their accounts or to other banks – with the bonus of sending up to €5,000 within the Single Euro Payments Area for free. Customers can also view and save certificates relating to their accounts, like the IBAN, interest certificates or their transaction history, as well as manage their notice accounts.