Greek systemic banks boost bond portfolios 14.3% in H1 2026, led by European government debt

Greek systemic banks increased their bond holdings from €82.3bn to €94.1bn in H1 2026, a 14.3% rise, using excess liquidity to buy mainly European government bonds. This signals a defensive allocation shift amid uncertain rate expectations, though the report does not specify which banks or maturities. The move could reflect expectations of stable or falling rates, supporting bank balance sheets but also concentrating sovereign risk.