Special Consular Services
Emergency Transfer of Funds to Greece
Money can be easily and quickly transferred from the U.S. for someone in Greece through Western Union or American Express. Please note that all money transferred will be disbursed in Euros, not in U.S. dollars. Fees for services vary. Western Union and American Express transfers can take less than 24 hours.
U.S. bank to Greek bank wire transfers offer another alternative, but may take from 2 to 3 days or more. A passport is required to pick up funds from any bank or agency. If the American recipient has lost his/her passport, then he/she must receive the money through the State Department at the Embassy in Athens (see OCS Trust below).
A. Western Union will transfer money to various locations in Greece. Please call Western Union at 210-900 5000 or visit the Western Union website to find the closest location to you. Service charges depend on the amount sent. Western Union (tel. no. 210 900 5000) is available Monday through Friday from 08:00 to 21:00, Saturdays from 08:30 to 20:30 and Sundays from 09:00 to 17:00.
B. American Express Travel-Related offices will also send money to Greece. Their main office in Athens is at 318 Mesogion, 153 41 Ag. Paraskevi, tel. 210 65 90 700. This office is open Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:00, and Saturday from 08:30 to 13:30. Disbursement is in Euro or dollar traveler’s checks.
C. Automatic Teller Machines: A sender in the U.S. may also deposit money in the recipient’s bank account in the U.S.; the latter could then withdraw a limited amount at an ATM here. ATM cards can be used at the following banks, with limits set by the bank. ATMs are spreading throughout Greece; most banks have at least one ATM in the Syntagma Square area.
VISA/PLUS card: Commercial Bank of Greece
CIRRUS card: Citibank
VISA/DINERS cards: Citibank
VISA/AMERICAN EXPRESS cards: Credit Bank
MASTERCARD: National Bank of Greece
PLUS card: Ergo Bank
OCS Trust
There are three ways to set up a "trust" so the Department of State can forward funds overseas. Each method requires a $30.00 processing fee. Personal checks are not acceptable. When the Department receives the funds it will send a telegram to the American Embassy in Athens or the American Consulate General in Thessaloniki and the funds will then be given to the recipient. It is important that the sender include the name and location of the person for whom the funds are intended when using this service.
OCS Trust via Western Union
If the sender has a major credit card, he/she may telephone Western Union at 1-800-325-6000 or 4176, or 1-800-752-6077. A sender may also visit a Western Union office and purchase a money order for the desired amount plus the $30.00 service charge, payable to the Overseas Citizen Services of the Department of State.
A message with the sender’s name and telephone number, as well as the name and overseas location of the recipient, must accompany the money order. Western Union charges a fee based on the amount sent. The money order and the message are sent to: Overseas Citizen Services (OCS), Department of State, Washington, DC 20520. Funds are normally received electronically in OCS within several hours. An OCS officer is available to receive funds on weekdays from 8:00am to 20:00pm and 9:00am to 3:00pm on Saturdays.
OCS Trust via Regular or Overnight Mail
Obtain a cashiers check or money order for the desired amount plus $30.00 (Department of State fee) made payable to the Overseas Citizen Services of the Department of State. Attach a letter with sender’s name, address and telephone number, as well as the name and location of the overseas recipient. Mail to: Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State, SA-29 4th floor, 2201 C St., NW, Wash., D.C. 20520. Delivery of overnight mail to OCS may take 3 to 4 days.
Regular mail can take 3 to 4 weeks to reach OCS due to on-going irradiation procedures. We strongly discourage this method for emergency use.
OCS Trust via Bankwire
It may take 1 to 7 days to process a bank wire transaction. The sender must instruct his/her bank to wire the desired amount plus $42.00 to: Bank of America, Department of State Branch, 2201 C St. NW, Washington, DC 20520 at Tel (202) 624-4750 via ABA Number: 114000653; Account Number 7476363838; Account Name: PUPID STATE DEPARTMENT; Special Instructions: OCS/TRUST for (recipient’s name), (US Embassy/Consulate (city, country). Sender should include his/her name and telephone number. The wire instructions must include the recipient’s full name and overseas location. Bank of America notifies the Department of State when funds are received. The $42.00 fee includes the $30.00 for the Department of State and the Bank of America $12.00 wire fee.