Alpha and Greece's other big banks remain burdened by large problem loan portfolios after a deep recession which pushed the jobless rate to nearly 27%, and they continue to make provisions for impaired credit.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Wednesday had a telephone communication with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.

A group calling itself "Anarchist Attack Consortium" has come forward to claim responsibility for the bombing attack against a bank in the early hours of December 10 in the northern Athenian suburb of Halandri, that fortunately failed .