Alpha Bank’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Fragiski Melissa, spoke at the GREECE 2030 Economy & Growth conference about the transformation of the banking sector and the opportunity for Greece to leverage its human capital as a competitive advantage.
“When a country manages to harness its talent and turn its people into its greatest competitive advantage, it’s not just the labor market that changes—the country’s very trajectory changes,” he noted, analyzing the new development model Alpha Bank is shaping for its people.
Explaining that the bank’s role today has shifted from executing transactions to a more complex advisory model, Ms. Melissa said that a modern career requires a dynamic start and, subsequently, a continuous path of learning and development.
“Banking professionals are evolving into advisors, mentors, and trusted partners for clients. This transition inevitably changes the very definition of a career, which is now based on a continuous path of development. It is, therefore, essential that we give our people the opportunity to acquire new knowledge, try out different roles, broaden their experiences, and grow alongside the organization and the market,” he noted.
Market leaders: minimum salary of €1,600
Alpha Bank begins supporting its employees from day one, laying a strong foundation.
“With the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, we were the first to establish a minimum base salary of €1,600. At Alpha Bank, we believe that no one can plan their future without first having a stable and decent starting point. “For us, compensation is the foundation upon which a young person can build their independence and confidently pursue the next step in their career,” noted the Group’s CHRO.
At the same time, the bank is redefining employee development within the organization itself.
“Traditionally, we know that to advance quickly, one must change employers. Now we’re talking about ‘careers in motion,’ where our people can grow without having to change employers. They can move into new roles, gain different experiences, develop new skills, and discover new career paths within the same organization. “We strive to accelerate their development by offering alternative career paths rather than just a linear trajectory,” said Ms. Melissa.
In this context, Alpha Bank is actively investing in change management led by the employees themselves.
“In collaboration with the Athens University of Economics and Business, we created a certification program in Change Management. Hundreds of employees have been trained, and today, on their own initiative, they are implementing 85 projects aimed at simplifying processes, reducing bureaucracy, and improving customer service,” said Alpha Bank’s CHRO.
Financial education and social initiatives
The discussion with journalist Marianna Pyrgioti also expanded to the broader role of banks in society.
“With a focus on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and women, we implement educational programs where our own employees, in collaboration with specialized organizations, help our customers become familiar with digital transactions and protect themselves from digital fraud, as well as gain greater confidence in making complex financial decisions that enhance their security for the future,” he said.
At the same time, he also mentioned initiatives to support employees’ families, such as wellness and parenting guidance programs. He made special mention of the Alpha Junior Savings Account initiative, noting that “for the first time, we have established a program where the bank funds accounts for employees’ children from a very young age, so they can learn what saving and financial planning mean, supporting them to face the future with confidence.”
Speaking about diversity and inclusion in business, and specifically in the banking sector, she explained that Alpha Bank has developed a structured strategic framework that promotes diversity and inclusion at every level of the organization.
“We place great emphasis on women’s empowerment, and today we see that 43% of leadership positions are held by women, while on the Board of Directors the percentage reaches 45%. At the same time, we are also focusing on other underrepresented groups, such as people with disabilities, through targeted inclusion initiatives,” said Ms. Melissa.
Brain Regain
Finally, she referred to the effort to repatriate Greeks living abroad, noting that Alpha Bank was among the first organizations to support this initiative, launching tours abroad six years ago with the aim of presenting to Greeks the opportunities available for them to return.
“Greeks abroad are looking for conditions similar to those they are accustomed to. That is why we ensure that positions, salaries, and benefits are competitive, while the tax incentives established by the Ministry of Labor also play an important role,” he emphasized.
And he concluded by saying: “When a country manages to harness its talent and turn its people into its greatest competitive advantage, it gains something even rarer: a new collective self-confidence. And then it’s not just the labor market that changes—the very course of the country changes.”