JPMorgan CEO Dimon says investment bank giant will expand presence in Greece; meeting with PM Mitsotakis

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received JPMorgan Chase & Co. chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon at the Maximos Mansion on Thursday, amid media reports that the multinational investment bank has clinched a deal for 49-percent of Greece-based digital banking and payments provider Viva Wallet.

The “price tag” accompanying the deal hovers at between 700 to 800 million euros.

On his part, Dimon, who is of Greek heritage, briefed Mitsotakis that JPMorgan will expand it representation office in the east Mediterranean country, in tandem with expanding its presence through the Viva Wallet agreement.

In reply, the center-right Greek premier referred to a “vote of confidence” for the country’s economy, and also confirms that a “start-up culture” has taken root in the country, a reference to fintech standout Viva Wallet.

The meeting also comes days after JP Morgan issued a forecast whereby Greece will return to an investment grade rating by early 2023.

The meeting was also attended by Mitsotakis’ top economic adviser, Alexis Patelis, the head of JPMorgan in Greece, Stelios Papadopoulos, and the banking giant’s Global Head of Wholesale Payments, Takis Georgakopoulos.