Piraeus Bank has been recognized as the best performing financial institution in Greece, according to this year’s Top 1000 World Banks ranking for 2025, published by The Banker magazine. This list, which is considered a globally recognized indicator for evaluating banking strength and is published annually by the Financial Times Group, ranked Piraeus in first place in the country regarding its overall performance. The bank was particularly distinguished for its operational efficiency and risk-adjusted returns.
The evaluation conducted by The Banker magazine is based on a comprehensive set of indicators beyond Tier 1 capital, including operational profitability, asset quality, liquidity, and risk-adjusted performance, forming an overall picture of stable banking performance. The data comes from the most recent published financial statements and is evaluated independently by the magazine’s editorial and research team. The ranking is used by central banks, strategic analysts, and senior executives in 94 countries and is considered the most comprehensive measure of banking strength globally, covering more than 130 performance indicators and tracking assets worth $150 trillion.
Piraeus Bank CEO Christos Megalou stated: “This distinction reflects the consistent and disciplined effort of our entire team to enhance profitability, effectively manage risks, and deliver strong results for our customers and shareholders. Being ranked first in overall performance is tangible confirmation of our people’s commitment and dedication, as well as Piraeus’s strength, resilience, and leadership presence in the Greek market. It proves that our strategy is paying off and that our commitment to long-term value creation resonates both in Greece and internationally.” The Banker magazine notes that 2024 was a year with mixed results for European banks, as pre-tax profits declined and asset growth remained limited. In contrast, Greek banks returned to stable profitability after a decade of restructuring, with Piraeus standing out for its strong performance in key indicators.
Piraeus’s presence in the top positions of The Banker magazine comes as the culmination of a period of targeted implementation of strategic goals, from enhancing operational efficiency to improving risk-adjusted returns. In 2024, Piraeus achieved high profitability, with net profits of €1.1 billion and return on equity of 15%. At the same time, it continued to strengthen its balance sheet, increasing its performing loans portfolio at the fastest rate in the market, by 12%, approaching €35 billion. Assets under management also increased at a rate above 20% annually, now exceeding €12 billion. These results underscore the significant progress achieved in strengthening Piraeus’s fundamentals and its decisive role in supporting the Greek economy with responsible, stable, and future-oriented banking activity.
