By Chrysostomos Tsoufis

Rapid increase in transactions through IRIS interbank service– which is provided by the banks in cooperation with the DIAS interbank payment system – occurred in 2023.

Money transfers between friends (IRIS P2P) increased by 251% compared to last year, transfers between professionals (IRISP2B) increased by 293% while payments in online stores (IRIS eCommerce) increased by 69%.

The magnitude of the rapid penetration of IRIS in the Greek market becomes much clearer if we compare its course since 2020. Thus transfers between friends have increased by 2540%, those between professionals by 1125% and 373% payments in online stores precisely because it is very fast and easy transactions, safe and most importantly…no charge for amounts up to €500 as long as they are private individuals.

Her details DIAS SA show that on the last day of 2023, the registered users of IRIS P2P reached 2.2 million, a number more than 4 times higher than in 2020. In fact, in December, 102,000 new users were registered, a record number. Almost 1.5 million (70%) belong to the age group between 18-34 years as it is also the solution to the big problem of… how will the bill be paid!!!

Professionals’ IRIS P2B registrants were 155,000 as of 12/31/2023, three times the size of 2020. 3,500 were online store registrants, 19 times more than 2020.

This means that around 600,000 including plumbers, doctors, lawyers, taxi operators, traders, car repair shops and kiosks will enable their customers to pay by mobile even for the smallest transaction without… messing with IBAN and POS.

The customer will simply type in his mobile phone mobile phone number or VAT number or the email the professional will have given them. In fact, it is not even required that the customer’s mobile phone supports the contactless payment function (NFC), as is the case, for example, with payments with immaterial cards and difference passes.

Of course, the condition is that the professional/shopkeeper has declared his business account – where the money will be deposited – via e-banking.