DIAS, which runs the IRIS instant payment system, and seven banks launched a three-month campaign on 26 October with prize draws for people who pay with IRIS at POS terminals. Alpha Bank, Eurobank, National Bank of Greece, Piraeus, CrediaBank, Optima and the Cooperative Bank of Chania are taking part. Every payment made through a mobile banking app at a POS terminal counts as one entry, and each bank picks one winner a month who receives supermarket vouchers worth 1,300 euros. Draws take place after 25 November, 25 December and 25 January 2027.

What it means: Paying with IRIS at the till has worked for some time, but consumers still mostly choose cards, out of habit and because cards offer points and cashback. This joint campaign by DIAS and the banks is an attempt to create a comparable incentive and to raise awareness. For merchants the interest is real: IRIS payments are credited instantly and usually cost less than card fees, which matters for supermarkets, petrol stations and shops with thin margins. Success depends, however, on whether the POS terminal and its provider support IRIS QR payments and whether staff know how to handle them. Businesses that want to benefit during the campaign should confirm with their bank or payment provider that the feature is active and tell customers about it at the checkout. The campaign also has a European angle, since DIAS takes part in discussions on linking national instant payment systems and on payments made by AI agents. A strong national scheme with real use in shops gives Greece a better position in those developments.

Read the original on Euro2day

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