Proton Bank was established in 2001 as Τράπεζα Επενδυτικών Δραστηριοτήτων Α.Ε. and officially commenced its operations as a specialised investment bank in 2002. The founders of the bank were John Markopoulos, Anthony Athanasoglou and Elias Lianos. Following a rapid development path, the bank was listed on the Athens Stock Exchange in December 2005 and later absorbed three listed closed-end funds, namely Arrow, Exelixi and Eurodynamics. In September 2006 was renamed Proton Bank and absorbed Omega Bank, with the new entity's share capital reaching €650 mil. In 2011 it came under investigation for money laundering violations. In October 2011 the bank's license was withdrawn it was put into liquidation.
Banking services
Proton Bank offered private and corporate banking services. The private banking division offering included deposits, loans and credit cards, portfolio management, asset management, brokerage services and mutual funds. The corporate banking division offered working capital financing, customer-tailored loans, treasury products and brokerage services.
Brokerage services
Proton Bank was a member of Athens Stock Exchange, EUREX and Cyprus Stock Exchange. It was the first broker in Greece to establish and operate the Reuters Order Routing system in both modes, allowing Proton Bank to operate in Execution Venue Mode receiving orders directly on-line from foreign brokers for the Athens Exchange, as well as in Order Entry Mode placing orders directly on-line to foreign brokers, members of international exchanges. Proton Bank consistently ranked among the top ten brokers in Greece in terms of market share in the cash market. A top ten position is also being held in the rank in the derivatives market.
In December 2007 Bank Hapoalim started negotiations with Proton Bank's major shareholder IRF investment fund over a possible buy out. The agreement never concluded because of implications caused by Israel's central bank.
Business Game
In February 2008 Proton Bank and Business Player magazine have organized the first business game in Greece. A number of magazine's subscribers are "contesting" in a virtual ATHEX stock market with a prize of the profits of their virtual portfolio.
In September 2008 Proton Bank's major shareholder IRF fund sold their shares to other shareholders and a few days later Piraeus Bank started negotiations to acquire Proton . The agreement finalized in November 2008 with Piraeus Bank acquiring 31.31% of Proton's total shares.
Lavrentis Lavrentiadis
In December 2009 pharmaceutical and media magnate Lavrentis Lavrentiadis acquired the Piraeus Bank owned 31.31% of shares, becoming major shareholder and president of the bank.
