Six in 10 Greeks have borrowed money or used a credit card to pay a bill in the past six months, according to the 2026 European Consumer Payment Report published by Intrum.
The report highlights growing financial pressure on households across Greece and Europe, with payment delays and reliance on borrowing increasing after two years of improvement.
Across Europe, nearly one in three consumers, or 29%, said they had paid at least one bill late during the previous 12 months. Meanwhile, 56% said they had borrowed money or used a credit card to pay a bill during the past six months, the highest level recorded since 2019.
Financial pressure varies across households
The report identifies three main trends in consumer finances.
Many European consumers continue to manage their financial obligations despite prolonged economic uncertainty. However, this resilience varies considerably between consumers and markets, while payment delays and reliance on borrowing are increasing.
Consumers also differ significantly in their ability to absorb unexpected expenses and manage rising costs. Some are becoming increasingly cautious about spending, while others are turning to flexible payment options or delaying payments to cope with financial difficulties.
At the same time, Europeans are increasingly using technology to manage their finances. The use of artificial intelligence for personal financial management has doubled.
Buy now, pay later use expands
Another response to financial pressure is the growing demand for flexibility over when payments are made.
Buy now, pay later, or BNPL, allows consumers to spread the timing of payments and can provide greater control over when costs affect household budgets.
The service is becoming increasingly common across Europe. Some 57% of consumers have used a BNPL service at some point, while four in 10 have used one during the past 12 months.
The report says BNPL use in itself is not necessarily a cause for concern. The concern is its use as a way of coping with financial hardship.
Among consumers in financially vulnerable situations, 31% use BNPL at least once a month. That compares with 9% of consumers who use it to manage their finances and 4% of financially resilient consumers.
As BNPL now falls within the scope of the revised Consumer Credit Directive, known as CCD2, protecting consumers from excessive reliance on the service will become increasingly important, according to the report.
Greece faces greater payment difficulties
The figures for Greece show a particularly high reliance on borrowing to cover everyday expenses.
According to the survey:
- 60% of Greeks have borrowed money to pay bills.
- 47% have used BNPL services.
- 37% have delayed payments.
- 21% use artificial intelligence tools to manage their personal finances.
Payment delays create a domino effect
The report also highlights the impact of financial pressure on businesses, linking tight liquidity with the economic and energy crises.
One in three European businesses now says these conditions could threaten its survival over the next 12 months, potentially putting thousands or even millions of jobs across Europe at risk.
Payment delays have emerged as a particularly significant problem. Customers are taking longer than ever to settle invoices, making cash-flow management more difficult and increasing financial pressure on businesses.
The report warns that persistent payment delays could undermine the European Union’s efforts to improve competitiveness and simplify procedures by creating a structural obstacle to investment and growth.
In Greece, 51% of businesses expect zero or negative economic growth, putting the country among five where more than half of businesses hold that expectation, alongside France, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The financial pressure can then spread through the supply chain.
As household income runs out before the end of the month, delayed payments create a domino effect, with businesses’ lack of liquidity being passed on to their suppliers.
In Greece, 54% of businesses say they delay paying their suppliers because their own customers have paid them late.
The report’s findings point to the broader financial strain facing both households and businesses, as delayed payments and limited liquidity increasingly affect the ability of consumers to meet their obligations and businesses to maintain cash flow.
