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National Bank of Greece (NBG) has joined Komgo’s global trade finance network to expand cross-border lending and corporate reach.
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The deal supports Greece’s push towards trade digitalisation as the country modernises its financial infrastructure.
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NBG said the partnership will help grow its European operations and international trade activity.
On Thursday, 7 May, digital trade finance network Komgo announced that the National Bank of Greece (NBG) has joined its global trade finance network. The partnership aims to connect NBG with global corporates and expand its reach.
Greece has a trade deficit of around $33.6 billion, with its exports and imports sitting at roughly $55.1 billion and $88.6 billion, respectively. However, under the Greece 2.0 initiative, the country’s economy has spent recent years undergoing a large-scale digital transformation.
The Greek information and communication technology market (ICT) is expected to grow at a 12.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 to 2033, increasing the adoption of paperless solutions for cross-border trade. The Aegean nation also benefits from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) partnership with NBG, supporting the digitalisation of the bank’s trade processes.
However, despite the efforts, Greece’s trade digitalisation is still behind other countries in the region.
“Greece sits at a strategic crossroads between Europe, the Middle East, and emerging markets, and the digitalisation of its trade finance ecosystem is now accelerating,” Anne-Sophie Pinson, Global Head of Business Development at Komgo, told Trade Finance Global (TFG). “NBG’s decision to join signals a turning point for the region.”
NBG aims for an 8% annual loan growth rate by 2027, with a particular focus on corporate lending and European expansion.
The bank’s international loan origination already exceeds €500 million; it has also established an administrative hub in Cyprus dedicated to broader European operations. Just yesterday, NBG revealed that its Cypriot arm’s lending volumes reached €1.3 billion, with the branch’s total assets marking a 128% year-on-year growth.
NBG has also garnered 25 foreign investors, 70% of whom were first-time investors in Greece, positioning the bank as an entry corridor into the Greek market.
“Greece’s trade ambitions are accelerating fast. Greece’s ports are already anchored in key European and Mediterranean corridors,” said Pinson. “By joining Komgo, NBG and its corporate clients can now leverage a robust and reliable digital trade finance infrastructure to match these physical corridors and scale their cross-boarder activities.”
NBG’s partnership with Komgo gives the bank access to new origination channels and corridors, furthering its expansion beyond the domestic market. “In uncertain times, resilience comes from operational readiness: robust processes, real-time data access, and the ability to serve clients efficiently. Digital platforms deliver that infrastructure instantly, so banks can focus on their clients, not their setup,” said Pinson.
