Alpha Bank is the fourth largest
Greek bank by total assets but the largest by market capitalisation of 2.59 Billion Euro as of 4 February 2016. It has a subsidiary and branch in
London, and branches and subsidiaries throughout
Southeastern Europe (see "International expansion" below). Founded in 1879, it has been controlled by the Costopoulos family since the very beginning. Currently Ioannis Costopoulos, who is the grandson of the original founder John F. Costopoulos, and the nephew of Stavros Costopoulos, Foreign Minister in the liberal government of
Georgios Papandreou, is the Chairman.